Argentina’s Atlético de Independiente defeated Venezuela’s Deportivo Lara 2-0 and qualified for the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores as second in Group G behind Brazil’s Corinthians.
With an impressive goal by Martin Benitez and another by Emmanuel Gigliotti on Thursday, Independiente consolidated their position and secured their entry into the Copa quarter-finals, reports Efe.
Independiente cemented its win in a play that centered around Benitez, Gigliotti and Silvio Romero as the key players.
It was Benitez himself who opened the scoreboard at 38 minutes with a corner shot that flew past Lara goalkeeper Carlos Salazar sending fans into a frenzy at the Estadio Libertadores de America stadium in Buenos Aires.
However, after good clear footwork by Jesus Hernandez and Carlos Sierra, Independiente made its second goal with Gigliotti, which he defined with a furious cross shot that left Salazar defenceless.
With this victory, Independiente finished the 2017/18 season with a smile; ccurrently six Argentine clubs have made it to the quarter-finals.
The elimination of Lara leaves Venezuela with no representation in this year’s tournament after the early farewell of Monagas in the group stage and Carabobo and Deportivo Tachira in the play-offs.