River advance in Copa Libertadores
By Charles Froggatt for CNN
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (CNN) -- River Plate and Cruzeiro guaranteed second round places in the Copa Libertadores after winning their groups, while Sao Caetano and Ecuador's Barcelona kept their survival hopes alive.
A depleted River won group six after drawing 2-2 with Venezuelan team Deportivo Tachira in an unconvincing performance.
After goals from Jose Sand and Fernando Cavenaghi in the first 15 minutes, the Argentine "Millionaires" looked set to win their group in style.
But Tachira came back with two second half goals from Leonel Vielma and Pedro Boada, the second coming in the dying minutes of a game described as "historic" by the Venezuelan press.
Tachira have only existed for 30 years and the team's qualification for the second round marks a major achievement for Venezuelan football.
"We could have been up by three goals in the first half and sealed the tie. But we came out relaxed in the second half, let them come at us and failed to control the ball," said River's coach Leonardo Astrada.
The draw means Tachira take second place behind River, while Colombian side Deportes Tolima and Libertad from Paraguay are eliminated.
Cruzeiro advance
The battle to finish top of group three was also decided this week as Brazilians Cruzeiro beat Caracas of Venezuela 3-2 and Santos Laguna of Mexico were held to a 2-2 draw against Universidad de Concepcion of Chile.
The win put Cruzeiro top of the group with 13 points while Santos Laguna's draw meant they finished second with 12. Both Caracas and Universidad de Concepcion are eliminated.
In group one Brazil's Sao Caetano beat Bolivian side The Strongest 2-0 to qualify in second place, while Uruguayan team Penarol's 2-0 win over Mexican group winners America was not enough to ensure their survival in the competition.
Both Sao Caetano and Penarol had eight points after six group games, but the Brazilian team's one-goal advantage in goal difference proved superior.
America won the group comfortably with 13 points with Sao Caetano finishing in second with eight.
Only the group winners and the five best second best teams of the nine groups automatically qualify for the second round. The four remaining second placed teams face a playoff for the last two second round places.
In group seven, two headers from Dany Vera meant Barcelona of Ecuador booked their place in the playoffs after a 2-0 win over Paraguay's Guarani.
Guarani bowed out of the competition with just six points in as many games.
Impressive Santos
Meanwhile, impressive Santos of Brazil -- who lost to Boca Juniors in last year's final -- topped the group with 16 points, the highest tally of any team in this year's group stages.
The Brazilian team beat winless Jorge Wilstermann of Bolivia 5-0. A win for Jorge Wilstermann would have made no difference to the group stages as the Bolivian team were eliminated weeks ago.
Sporting Cristal of Peru won group nine on goal difference over Rosario Central of Argentina. Both teams finished with 10 points, but the Peruvian team's superior goal difference gave them automatic qualification.
Coritiba of Brazil and Olimpia of Paraguay failed to make the cut.
Already through from group four are Sao Paulo of Brazil and Liga de Quito of Ecuador. Alianza Lima of Peru and pointless Cobreloa of Chile are eliminated.
