Copa Libertadores Review: River rout Strongest, Santa Fe held

River Plate have assumed control of Group 1 in the Copa Libertadores with a 6-0 thrashing of The Strongest.

The Argentine outfit were third in the group before kick-off but have moved into top spot courtesy of their thrashing of the Bolivian side.

River had five goals before half-time from five different goalscorers.

Andres D’Alessandro scored the opener after 14 minutes, before Ignacio Fernandez and Camilo Mayada made it 3-0 by the 30-minute mark.

Emanuel Mammana and Lucas Alario added another two to make it 5-0 before the break.

The Strongest did their best to respond in the second half but rarely troubled River goalkeeper Marcelo Barovero and it was Fernandez who completed the rout with his second of the game in the 83rd minute.

In Santa Fe, there were 16 minutes of added time at the end of the first half after a light failure forced a break in play during their 1-1 draw against Corinthians.

The home side avoided becoming too disjointed after the stoppage midway through the half and opened the scoring in the third added minute of the period through Antony Otero.

They could not maintain the lead, though, and had to settle for a point after Elias’ 58th-minute equaliser.

Independiente del Valle moved level on points with Group 5 leaders Atletico Mineiro after a superb first-half performance saw them win 3-2.

Bryan Cabezas put the home side 1-0 up only for Junior Urso to restore parity for the Brazilians, but that was short-lived as a first-half brace from Junior Sornoza ensured Independiente took a good advantage into the break.

The second half proved nervy, but Independiente held their ground after Lucas Pratto converted a penalty to make it 3-2 just four minutes into the second half.

A first-half brace from Gabriel Jesus put Palmeiras in the lead against Rosario Central, only for Franco Cervi to equalise in the second half.

The match ended 3-3 after goals from Marco Ruben and Palmeiras’ Lucas Barrios cancelled each other out, the result enough to temporarily move Rosario into top spot in Group 2.

Elsewhere, Pumas UNAM qualified for the round of 16 from Group 7 after their 4-1 win over Olimpia.

Pumas were down 1-0 at half-time, but goals from Gerardo Alcoba, Matias Britos, Eduardo Herrera and Ismael Sosa won the game for the home side.