Deportivo Quito rounded up the last of the Copa Libertadores last 16 matches with an emphatic 4-1 win against Universidad de Chile last night.
Universidad, who are current Copa Sudamerica champions (equivalent of UEFA cup) were heavy favourites for the quarter finals but their progress looks unlikely now.
Despite winning 5-0 versus Colo Colo at the weekend and being currently ranked as the 3rd best team in the world (www.iffhs.de) Universidad were largely outclassed, outplayed and outfought in the Atahualpa Stadium.
Argentinean striker Matias Alustiza opened the scoring for Quito in the 29th minute after a quick break from defence smashing the ball past the Chilean goal keeper. Despite their early lead Deportivo suffered barely 1 minute later when midfielder, Freddy Olvio received a 2nd yellow card for a late tackle. This in turn spurned Universidad into action and they equalised through Matias Rodriguez 5 minutes later.
The match seemed delicately poised as half time loomed when Luis Checa rose above the Universidad defenders to head into the goal giving the 10 men a deserved lead.
By this time it had already been too much for Universidad coach, Jorge Sampaoli, to handle as he was sent to the stand for protesting too vociferously. And his nightmare continued early in the 2nd half as Alustiza claim his 2nd goal then saw his one man advantage disappear with Osvaldo Gonzalez’s dismissal.
This hole in the defence led to Quito’s 4rth goal when Fidel Martinez waltzed through the back line too thunder past Jonny Herrera and probably ensure Quito’s passage into the last eight.
The rest of Libertadores ties will be more balanced going into next week’s 2nd legs.
The all Brazilian tie of Internacional vs Fluminense ended up a 0-0 stalemate leaving the 2nd leg wide open but with Fluminense having home advantage.
Also on Thursday Bolivar recorded a historic 2-1win against Brazilian giants, Santos. However it is likely that Santos will overcome the Bolivians especially with an away goal, the marauding attack of Ganso and Neymar and without the thin air of La Paz.
On Tuesday night Velez Sarzfield (Argentina) recorded the competitions only away victory 1-0 against Atletico Nacional in Columbia. Ivan Bella scored early in the first half to ensure Velez’s first victory on Columbia soil in continental competitions.
On the same night La Libertad secured a valuable 1-1 draw against Cruz Azul in Mexico City and should be confident of progressing next week in Asuncion.
The bulk of the competitions matches were played on Wednesday with Boca Juniors and Vasco De Gama scraping a 2-1 home wins to Union Espanola of Chile and Lamus of Argentina respectively. While in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Emelec could only draw 0-0 to Corinthians and must at least score and draw in Sau Paulo to continue to the last eight.
Full results
Internacional 0-0 Fluminense
Bolivar 2-1 Santos
Cruz Azul 1-1 Libertad
Atletico Nacional 0-1 Velez Sarsfield
Boca Juniors 2-1 Union Espanola
Vasco De Game 2-1 Lanus
Emelec 0-0 Corinthians
Deportivo Quito 4-1 Universidad de Chile
Alistair McLauchlan 
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