Gremio wins 2-0 against Atletico Junior to reach final 16

Brazilian club Gremio qualified for the final 16 of the Copa Libertadores with a 2-0 win over Colombia’s Atletico Junior on Thursday.

Lucio opened the scoring for Gremio with a low shot at the back post in the 34th minute and Borges followed with another goal in the 61st.

The win gave Gremio 10 points from five matches in Group 2. Atletico Junior, which has already qualified for the last 16 after winning four previous group matches, stayed atop the standings with 12 points.

Gremio’s win eliminated Peruvian club Leon de Huanuco, which has four points.

In other games, Emelec drew 0-0 with Bolivia’s Jorge Wilstermann to remain in contention to qualify from Group 6.

With one match left, defending Libertadores champion Internacional of Brazil has 10 points, Chiapas of Mexico has nine, and Emelec has eight.

In a late game, Chile’s Universidad Catolica drew 0-0 with Velez Sarsfield of Argentina, giving both teams a chance to still qualify out of Group 4.

With one match left, Caracas of Venezuela leads the group with nine points, Catolica is second with eight and Velez Sarsfield is third with seven. Velez next travels to Caracas and Catolica hosts already-eliminated Union Espanola.

The Copa Libertadores is Latin America’s top international club competition. Group matches continue through April, with the top two clubs in each four-team section progressing to the knockout round of 16.

The final is scheduled for June.

(The Associated Press)

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