Copa Libertadores wrap: Quito advance, Independiente out

LDU Quito booked their place in the Copa Libertadores last 16 with a 2-0 win over Godoy Cruz on Tuesday, while Independiente fell short.

Quito, the reigning Ecuadorian champions, finished on top of Group Eight with 10 points courtesy of second-half goals to Luis Bolanos and Hernan Barcos.

Bolanos struck two minutes after half-time on a swift counter-attack, the former Internacional striker making no mistake after being picked out at the far post.

Barcos, who scored 22 goals in his 32 appearances in his first campaign with Quito last season, made it 2-0 with a bit of individual brilliance 11 minutes later.

The Argentinean collected the ball at midfield, sprinted up the left flank and somehow bullied his way around two defenders before firing into the roof of the net on a tight angle.

Godoy Cruz midfielder Carlos Sanchez saw a straight red for his tackle on Ezequiel Gonzalez in the 62nd minute, leaving the Argentinean club with no hope of claiming the win they needed to advance to the quarter-finals.

Elsewhere, Argentine giants Independiente saw their slim hopes of progressing in the South American tournament fade despite a 1-0 win at Uruguayan side Penarol.

Striker Facundo Parra nabbed the lone goal in the 33rd minute for the visitors and then spent a nervous seven minutes in goal after Independiente goalkeeper Fabian Assmann was dismissed for pushing Penarol striker Juan Manuel Olivera.

Assmann’s foul was prompted by Olivera head-butting Ivan Velez, for which the striker was also sent off.

Independiente needed to score eight goals in Uruguay and hope that LDU Quito and Godoy Cruz drew in order to reach the next round.

Instead, Penarol will progress after finishing second in Group Eight with nine points.

Finally, Chilean outfit Colo Colo moved to the top of Group Five with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Deportivo Tachira.

Edgar Perez-Greco put the visitors ahead with a goal on four minutes, but a brace to 17-year-old striker Diego Rubio ensured Colo Colo would move within a point of clinching their last-16 berth.

Rubio has scored five goals in his past three appearances for Colo Colo.