3 teams in the Final 16?

By: Chris | April 13th, 2007

Toluca and América came away with huge wins in the Copa Toyota Libertadores, leaving all three Mexican teams with a good chance of advancing into the Final 16.

Group One

In the extremely tight Group 1, América came away with the biggest result, coming from behind in Asunción to beat Libertad 2-1 on Wednesday.

The heroes of the night were coach Luis Fernando Tena and Salvador Cabañas.

Trailing 1-0 at the half, Tena threw on Cabañas and fellow Paraguayan Nelson Cuevas, both who looked at home in their return to their native land.

Cabañas’s two goals prevented Libertad from clinching a spot in the next round, while also bunching the top of Group 1 into a three-team race for two spots in the Round of 16.

Libertad sits in first place with 10 points while América and Argentina’s Banfield sit on 9 with one game to play.

Banfield will host Libertad and América will host last-place and already-eliminated El Nacional on Wednesday to decide which two teams go through.

América’s result was also sweet revenge for the Águilas, who avenged a shock 4-1 thrashing handed to them by Libertad in early March at the Azteca.

Group Two

Another jumble at the top of Group 2 also awaits Necaxa, who fell in Santiago to modest Chilean side Audax Italiano 2-1 on Wednesday.

Juan Manuel Salgueiro tied it for the Hidrorayos early in the 2nd half, but Miguel Ángel Romero’s goal in the 62nd minute gave the Chilean side the victory and hopes of qualifying for the next round in their first appearance in South America’s largest club competition.

Audax’s victory leaves them in first place with 10 points, while the second-straight loss for Necaxa leaves them in 2nd place with nine points.

Hot on their heels are Brazil’s Sao Paulo who sit on 7 points with a game in hand against last-place Alianza Lima on Wednesday.

Despite the two losses following three victories in three games, Necaxa will host Alianza Lima on the 25th of April, as a win will see them through.

Group Seven

Toluca’s 2-0 win in the Bolivian altitude against Bolívar on Thursday greatly helped their classification options and could leave perennial favorites Boca Juniors out of options in their hopes of moving on.

Goals from Sergio Amaury Ponce in the 14th minute and Vicente Sanchez in the 89th revived the Diablos Rojos’s aspirations of moving on, after losses at home to the Bolivian side and in Argentina to Boca Juniors had the Copa Sudamericana semifinalists from a year ago on the outside looking in.

Boca Juniors must win at home to Bolívar on the 26th of April to have any chances of qualifying. Toluca will host Peru’s Cienciano on the same day, and if Boca fails to win, both the Diablos Rojos and Cienciano will go through.