Copa Libertadores wrap: Junior show maturity

Athletico Junior continued their total domination of Group Two in the Copa Libertadores with a 2-1 away win over Oriente Petrolero.

The win was Junior’s third straight this season and confirmed their place at the top of the table with maximum points.

The home loss was Oriente’s third consecutive defeat and left them without a point at the bottom.

Victor Cortes gave the Colombian visitors the lead after 27 minutes and Luiz Paek made it 2-0 a minute after the half-time break.

The Bolivian club’s Juan Arce pulled a goal back two minutes into stoppage time but it was too little, too late.

Penarol striker Luis Aguiar scored the only goal in the 58th minute against LDU Quito in Montevideo as the Uruguayans moved top of Group Eight.

Aguiar found the net for Penarol in the 58th minute, only needing one touch to put it past Alexander Carabali.

Aguiar’s winner came from a corner kick, blasting home with a right-foot shot which deflected off several defenders.

Estudiantes, the 2009 Copa Libertadores winners, scored two second-half goals to edge Paraguay’s Guarani 2-1.

Pablo Caballero scored a penalty just before half-time to put the home side up 1-0, converting after a foul by Federico Fernandez.

Pablo Barrientos equalised from close range five minutes into the second half and substitute Leandro Gonzalez made it 2-1 three minutes later when he curled in a shot to the far post from the top of the box.

Estudiantes now have six points from three games while Guarani are still without a point.

In Group Four, Venezuela’s Caracas scored three goals in three minutes to beat Universidad Catolica 3-1 away from home.

Luis Cabezas was involved in all three goals to send Caracas to the top of the table.

He scored the opener a minute after half-time, finishing a cross unmarked at the far post.

Two minutes later, Cabezas drilled a shot from the edge of the box, forcing keeper Cristopher Toselli to push the ball away.

Nelson Barahona comfortably put away the rebound.

The visitors delivered the knock-out punch as Cabezas used his head to finish a cross, sending the Chileans to a humiliating defeat.

Pablo Calandria scored for Universidad Catolica four minutes later, but they could not find their scoring touch again in the match.

Caracas are top of the group with six points while Catolica have four.