Copa Libertadores wrap: Velez keep hopes alive, Leon suffer setback

Velez Sarsfield won a bruising Copa Libertadores clash with Union Espanola on Thursday, while Leon de Huanuco’s campaign is all but over.

Qualifying for the continental tournament through their second placing in the Apertura of the 2010 Argentine Primera Division season, Velez Sarsfield needed a win at home to keep them in touch with Group 4 leaders Universidad Catolica.Ricardo Gareca’s men duly delivered with a 2-1 result against Union Espanola, elevating them to second in the group standings.Defender Emiliano Papa opened the scoring for the home side, lashing in the rebound on 23 minutes after a close-range effort from striker Santiago Silva had been blocked by Union goalkeeper Eduardo Lobos.But the lead lasted just 11 minutes, with the Chilean outfit equalising when defender Leandro Delgado beat the off-side trap to flick his header past Velez shot-stopper Marcelo Barovero.Having gone close in the build-up to the opener, Uruguayan Silva did not leave empty handed when he nodded home in the 69th minute after Maximiliano Moralez’s cross into the area was sent back across the face of goal.Velez survived several desperate attacks as the clock wound down, and could also be considered lucky not to have accumulated more than three yellow cards after a handful of robust challenges went unpunished by Brazilian referee Salvio Spinola Fagundes Filho.Union drop to bottom of Group 4, but are just three points from fellow Chilean side Universidad in the standings, with two games remaining.Bolivian club Oriente Petrolero hopes of progressing beyond the competition’s group stages are well over, but they provided a hammer blow to Peruvian outfit Leon de Huanuco’s own campaign with a 2-0 win at home.Alcides Pena’s 17th-minute opener was complemented by a 78th-minute sealer from Bolivian international midfielder Jhasmany Carlos, handing Oriente their first points of the stage.The result leaves Leon de Huanuco three points and goal difference from second-placed Gremio on the Group 2 table, with the Brazilian club possessing a game in hand. Colombian side Junior are the runaway group leaders, having won all four games.