Palmeiras in Copa Libertadores knockout phase

Rio de Janeiro May 25 (IANS) Reigning Brazilian Serie A champions Palmeiras claimed top spot in Group E of the Copa Libertadores football tournament with a 3-1 victory over Argentina s Atletico Tucuman.

Colombia international defender Yerry Mina opened the scoring at Allianz Parque on Wednesday with a 15th-minute strike before Luis Rodriguez headed in an equaliser just after halftime reports Xinhua news agency.

Willian then slotted in Palmeiras second goal before Ze Roberto struck in second-half injury time as the Sao Paulo outfit secured their fourth win in six matches.

In the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo hosts Club Atlético Peñarol defeated Bolivia s Jorge Wilstermann 2-0 despite playing most of the second half with 10 men.

Junior Arias and Ivan Villalba netted for the hosts in the first half before Guzman Pereira was shown a straight red card shortly after halftime for scything down Fernando Saucedo.

Despite the result Jorge Wilstermann progressed to the knockout phase finishing second in Group E with nine points four points behind Palmeiras.

Atletico Tucuman and Penarol were eliminated from the tournament though the former s third placing in the group gives them the right to play in the Copa Sudamerica -- the second tier continental football tournament in South America.

--IANS
ajb/bg