Independiente, Jaguares win through

Independiente, Jaguares win through


Argentinian giants Independiente reached the Copa Libertadores group stage even though Ecuador's Deportivo Quito claimed a 1-0 home win in the second leg of the preliminary clash.

A 2-0 first-leg win in Argentina helped the Red Devils progress to Group 8 where they meet compatriots Godoy Cruz, Uruguayan giants Penarol and Liga Deportiva Universitaria of Ecuador.

Michael Jackson Quinonez came in for Juan Paredes in the 56th minute and scored the only goal seconds later, when a move with Julio Bevacqua ended with a right-foot shot from outside the box.

Independiente keeper Hilario Navarro saved a number of chances to deny Deportivo Quito a second goal. In the last minute, he saved a Luis Perea cross from the left when striker Bevacqua was about to score the decisive aggregate equaliser.

Navarro told Fox Sports: "I'm very happy. We've achieved something big, something that was very difficult on paper. When you play at high altitude, all approaches are difficult because the ball runs faster, but we played this match as a final and we clinched our goal."

Mexican side Jaguares also made it into the group stage as they bypassed Peruvian giants Alianza Lima 2-0 to claim a 4-0 aggregate victory in their first Copa Libertadores appearance.

In a game that became increasingly heated, Alianza Lima played with ten men from the 29th minute when Edgar Villamarin tackled Jorge Hernandez from behind and was shown red. In the 68th minute, Michael Pedroza opened the scoring while Antonio Salazar doubled the gap seven minutes later.

Jaguares made it into Group 6 and have been drawn alongside the reigning champions Internacional of Brazil, Ecuador's Emelec and Bolivian side Wilstermann.
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