Spoils shared in Chile, holders draw

Spoils shared in Chile, holders draw
(PA) Wednesday 10 March 2010
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Reigning champions Estudiantes came away from La Paz with a point after a goalless draw with Bolivar in Group 3. Estu goalkeeper Agustin Orion was the star of the show in keeping Bolivar out, but the visitors missed their chance to win as Leandro Gonzalez missed with an injury-time header from Maximiliano Nunez's cross.

Edson Puch's last-gasp goal earned Universidad de Chile a share of the spoils from a thrilling Copa Libertadores clash with Universidad Catolica on Tuesday. Catolica appeared to be on the verge of winning the first official match in Chile since the recent earthquakes, but Puch's injury-time header secured a draw for the visitors. The visitors had taken the lead when Juan Manuel Olivera forced the ball home in the 19th minute. But Catolica quickly equalised, with Matias Rubio capitalising on a defensive mix-up to score.

Then, in the 70th minute, Francisco Silva beat visiting goalkeeper Esteban Conde to put Catolica on top. But Puch's intervention gave Universidad de Chile the point they needed to go top of Group 8. Brazilian giants Flamengo can leapfrog them with victory over Venezuela's Caracas tonight.

Racing, Depor triumph
Uruguayan debutants Racing have moved level with Corinthians at the top of Group 1 with a 2-1 win over Cerro Porteno in Montevideo. Matias Mirabaje turned in Jean-Pierre Barrientos' free-kick to put Racing in front after 19 minutes, and Martin Cauteruccio doubled the lead in the 68th minute, pouncing on a mistake by goalkeeper Edgar Barreto.

Luis Enrique Caceres got a goal back for the visitors seven minutes from time. Cerro Porteno finished the game with 10 men as Javier Villarreal was sent off 12 minutes from time. They remain winless in the tournament.

Second-half goals from Gabriel Mendez and Luis Escalada gave Deportivo Cuenca their first Group 6 win in three attempts as they beat Mexico's Morelia 2-0. Both sides were reduced to 10 men late on as Giancarlo Ramos of Depor and Morelia's Mario Moreno-Gonzalez were sent off for jostling.