Uruguay's Nacional earns reprieve

Uruguay's Nacional earns reprieve

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuter): Three-time Libertadores Cup champions Nacional of Uruguay kept alive their chances of staying in this year's competition by beating Colo Colo of Chile 2-0 in a first round, group four match.

Nacional, needing a win to stay in the tournament, took an early lead in Friday's game when striker Fabian O'Neill scored in the 13th minute with a shot which deflected off Colo Colo defender Francisco Rojas.

Uruguayan international defender Ricardo Canals scored the second from a 68th-minute penalty after Osvaldo Canobbio had been upended by goalkeeper Jose Moron. Colo Colo had already guaranteed their second round place and fielded a mainly reserve team.

Nacional are still bottom of the group and need to win their last game at home to Union Espanola of Chile to make the second round. Only the last team in each of the five first-round groups is eliminated.

Venezuela's Minerven were guaranteed their place without playing.

Maritimo, also of Venezuela, needed to beat Bolivians The Strongest in the rarified air of La Paz to force a play-off with Minerven but crashed to a 5-0 defeat. Bolivian international Jhonny Villaroel scored a hat-trick.

Group three remained wide open when Universitario of Peru were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Ecuador's Barcelona in a bad- tempered match which saw three players sent off -- Universitario midfielder Jorge Nunes, Barcelona defender Byron Tenorio and their midfielder Hector Carabali.

Universitario striker Dolmo Flores had a last-minute goal disallowed for offside.