Lanus, Vasco edge closer to qualification

Argentina's side Lanus hammered Paraguayan giants Olimpia 6-0 to put one foot in the last 16 of the Copa Libertadores on Tuesday. A brace from Mariano Pavone helped Gabriel Schurrer's side move top of Group Six with 10 points, three above Olimpia. Pavone put Lanus ahead in the 14th minute as he turned Mario Regueiro's cross home, and Mauro Camoranesi then headed in Luciano Balbi's delivery to double the lead before the half-hour mark. Pavone added a third after the break before Regueiro made it four with 20 minutes to go. Diego Valeri finished from range soon after and Silvio Romero completed the rout with six minutes left. "We have one match left and a number of opportunities to make it into the next round," Lanus midfielder Matias Fritzler told Fox Sports. "This team deserves it. We are very happy. The Copa Libertadores is a difficult tournament. It is hard to win by even two goals. Now we have to focus on the local league as we need to win there too." Vasco da Gama claimed a 2-1 away win over Peruvian side Alianza Lima to consolidate their lead in Group Five. Fellipe Bastos gave Vasco the lead after 17 minutes when his shot found the net after taking a deflection off Alianza defender Giancarlo Carmona. Dede struck the post as Vasco chased a second goal that eventually came through Bastos again in the 75th minute. Moments later Miguel Curiel replied for the hosts and there was a further blow for Vasco who were reduced to 10 men before the end as Nilton was sent off late on. In a Group Six match in Venezuela, Deportivo Tachira and Mexico's Cruz Azul played to a 1-1 draw. Mauricio Parra put the hosts in front after 20 minutes, but Christian Gimenez got a late equaliser for the visitors, making amends after missing a 56th minute penalty awarded when Ruben Arocha handled in the area. Deportivo Tachira remain at the bottom of Group Six on three points while Cruz Azul moved level with Brazil's Corinthians at the top on eight points.