Olimpia, Cobreloa earn narrow progression

Paraguayan giants Olimpia hit back from a goal down to beat Uruguayan side Danubio 2-1 in Asuncion on Tuesday night to reach the second round of the Copa Sudamericana. The teams headed into the second leg with all to play for after a goalless first meeting in Montevideo two weeks ago, and it was the visitors who drew first blood when Argentinian forward Leonardo Carboni headed home in the 23rd minute. However, Olimpia turned the tie on its head with two goals in five minutes just before half-time through Eduardo Aranda and Juan-Manuel Salgueiro. The hosts had a slice of luck with both of their goals, with both taking deflections off Danubio defender Gabriel De Leon and leaving goalkeeper Mauro Goicoechea with no chance. Danubio's misery was compounded seven minutes from time when midfielder Angel Cayetano was sent off and there was no way back for the 10 men, as Olimpia prevailed to keep alive their hopes of a first Copa Sudamericana title. "We are very happy because it was not easy at all. Danubio were tough opponents," Salgueiro told Fox Sports. "We are hopeful of achieving our final goal." Next up for Olimpia will be Ecuadorian outfit Emelec or Peru's Universidad San Martin, the former holding a 1-0 first-leg advantage. Meanwhile, Cobreloa of Chile progressed to the second stage thanks to a 2-2 home draw against Paraguayan side Tacuary, which was enough for a 3-2 aggregate triumph. Javier Torrente's Cobreloa looked to be cruising into the second stage of the competition when they took a two-goal lead through Cristian Canio's right-footed strike and Marcos Pol's header. Substitute Ramon Cardozo reduced the deficit in the 62nd minute, though, when Cobreloa keeper Sebastian Contreras failed to hold onto a weak shot, and then a Cristian Suarez own goal evened things up on the night. However, the visitors could not find a third away goal and were left to rue their 1-0 first-leg defeat. "We are not completely happy because we must play good football. The team will have to improve a lot," Cobreloa defender Sebastian Rocco said. Venezuelan side Deportivo Tachira or Ecuadorian giants Barcelona will be Cobreloa's next rivals, but Roco added: "We cannot think about which rivals would be better for us. We played very well as visitors in this tie, but we cannot be happy with that alone." FIFA