Copa Libertadores wrap: Olimpia, Tolima reach group stages

Paraguayan club Olimpia have qualified for the second round of Copa Libertadores with a 2-0 win over Defensor Sporting.

Eduardo Aranda’s stunning long-range strike wrapped up Olimpia’s two-goal aggregate victory on Thursday after Juan Ferreyra gave the home side the lead in the first half at Estadio Defensores del Chaco.

Having played out a goalless draw in the first leg in Uruguay, Olimpia scored the opening goal of the first-round tie when attacking midfielder Tomas Guzman placed his cross on Ferreyra’s head in the 35th minute and the 29-year-old striker took full advantage.

Aranda doubled Olimpia’s lead and effectively ended the tie on the hour mark when he collected a pass from Fredy Bareiro and unleashed a shot from over 30 metres out, which flew past Defensor’s goalkeeper Yonatan Irrazabal.

Olimpia’s win sets puts them into Group 7 for the second round of the competition, drawn with Argentina’s Newell’s Old Boys, Venezuelan club Deportivo Lara and Chilean outfit Universidad Chile.

In the Peruvian city of Trujillo, Colombia’s Deportes Tolima pulled off a 2-1 aggregate triumph over Universidad Cesar Vallejo thanks to Charles Monsalvo’s late goal.

Having lost the first leg 1-0 away to Tolima, Universidad Cesar Vallejo looked on track to force extra time thanks to Ronald Quinteros’ goal in the second leg.

But Tolima wrapped up the tie in the 86th minute when substitute Monsalvo finished off Sergio Otalvaro’s good lead-up work to earn a 1-1 second-leg draw and an aggregate victory.

The result means Tolima will face Paraguay’s Cerro Porteno, Peruvian side Real Atletico Garcilaso and Colombia’s Santa Fe in Group 6.