Copa Libertadores 2012, Tuesday Wrap: Bolivar, Deportivo Quito Advance

Two more teams booked their spots in the Copa Libertadores knockout stages on Tuesday, leaving two spots still to be claimed. Those spots are both in Group 1, which won’t be settled until Thursday. Group 3 and Group 6 were the two that completed play on Tuesday, with Bolivar and Deportivo Quito grabbing knockout stage places. There are four teams locked into top seeds and four teams locked into lower seeds. Three groups have determined both knockout stage participants, but still need to settle first and second place.

Based on the score and Chivas’ standing in the table, one might guess that they did not play a real team. This is not the case. This was a half-and-half first and second team for Chivas, and every player who played has played in an important competitive fixture for them this season. Matias Alustiza scored four goals for the home side to clinch their progression to the knockout stages.

Velez were already in the knockout stages and are in a tough fight for the Argentine Primera title, so they didn’t put their best foot forward here. It was a good performance by Defensor to get the win they needed to give themselves a chance to go through, but they got no help from Chivas.

Union was already through and Junior was already out before this game. Junior’s goals were both penalties. Let’s move on.

Bolivar have proven this year that they are a solid team that is nearly impossible to beat at home. Still, UC could have put in a decent effort. The group favorites went crashing out in embarrassing fashion as they were battered by 24 shots. Pablo Frontini headed in a corner kick in the opening minute for the hosts, and that was about it for the game. UC didn’t manage a shot attempt until the 19th minute. That attempt was one of just two on target for the visitors. Damian Lizio and Walter Flores scored the other goals in the rout.