50 Years of Passion is what the 50th Anniversary Copa Libertadores is all about. The tournament is 2 weeks away from finalizing the seedings for the knockout stage. There is still a lot of maneuvering as teams look to finish in the top 2 slots in their groups.
Group 6 is setting up for some massive drama on the final day after Venezuelan side FC Caracas pulled an important 3 points at home versus Chilean side Everton. Darío Figueroa's penalty in the 62nd minute sealed the gritty 1-0 win and moved FC Caracas into 1st place. Chivas of Guadalajara failed to better their position in the group after their 0-0 home draw versus Lanus and now sit 1 point back of Caracas in 2nd with Everton in 3rd sitting 2 points behind the Venezuelans.
Wednesday featured 4 Brazilian teams in action. Palmeiras hosted Sport Recife in a crucial Group 1 match that ended in a 1-1 draw that boosted Sport's chances of advancing to its 1st ever knockout stage. Wilson's 45th minute goal canceled out Keirrison's 15th minute penalty. Sao Paulo lost 2-1 in Colombia to Independiente Medellin and lost their undefeated record however the Tricolor Paulista is still in the next round. Gremio remained unbeaten with a big 2-0 road win versus La U de Chile. Tricolor Gaucho is now in a good spot for a #1 seed in the knockout stage.
On Thursday, Boyacá Chicó moved closer to their 1st ever knockout stage when they beat Aurora 2-1 at home. Marco Perez scored the eventual game winner in the 69th minute, the Colombians are in 2nd place in Group 7 with 9 points and only need a draw in their next match to advance.
Here are the results from this week's Libertadores action:
TUESDAY, APRIL 14
Group 5
Deportivo Quito (ECU) 3 - 1 Univ. de Sucre (BOL)
DPQ: Luis Saritama (12' & pen 61') & Léider Preciado (pen 43')
USC: Nicolas Raimondi (27')
Group 6
FC Caracas (VEN) 1 - 0 Everton (CHI)
CAR: Darío Figueroa (pen 62')
CD Guadalajara (MEX) 0 - 0 Lanus (ARG)
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15th
Group 1
Palmeiras (BRA) 1 - 1 Sport Recife (BRA)
PAL: Keirrison (pen 15')
SPO: Wilson (45')
Group 4
Independiente Medellín (COL) 2 - 1 São Paulo (BRA)
DIM: Diego Cabrera (16') & Rafael Castillo (27')
SPO: André Lima (40')
Group 7
Univ. de Chile (CHI) 0 - 2 Gremio (BRA)
GRE: Léo (33') & Maximiliano López (66')
THURSDAY, APRIL 16th
Group 2
Deportivo Táchira (VEN) 2 - 1 Guaraní (PAR)
TAC: Jonathan Del Valle (69') & Marlon Fernández (75')
GUA: Julián Benítez (18')
Group 4
América de Cali (COL) 0 - 0 Defensor Sporting (URU)
Group 7
Boyacá Chicó FC (COL) 2 - 1 Aurora (BOL)
BOY: Miguel Caneo (pen 50') & Marco Perez (69')
AUR: Christian Fernández (88')