RIO DE JANEIRO, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's Gremio scored either side of halftime to defeat Universidad Catolica of Chile 2-0 and earn a berth in the Copa Libertadores knockout phase on Wednesday.
Alisson Castro put the hosts ahead in the 23rd minute after a counterattack before Thaciano da Silva came off the bench to tap in from close range after a Leonardo Gomes cross.
The result at Arena do Gremio left the 2017 champions second in Group H, two points behind Paraguay's Libertad, who lost 2-1 to Argentina's Rosario Central. Universidad were eliminated, having finished third in the group.
In Montevideo, Penarol and Flamengo played out an ill-tempered goalless draw, leaving the Uruguayan side out of the tournament's last 16.
Flamengo played the last half-hour with 10 men after defender Para was sent off for a second bad foul. Penarol defender Giovanni Gonzalez was also dismissed following a second booking in the last minute of the match.
In other fixtures on Wednesday, Ecuador's Emelec secured a place in the next round by winning 2-1 at Cruzeiro, Huracan of Argentina breezed to a 3-0 win over Venezuela's Deportivo Lara, Peru's Melgar won 1-0 at Junior Barranquilla in Colombia, Ecuadorian outfit LDU Quito thumped CD San Jose of Bolivia 4-0 and Brazil's Palmeiras prevailed 1-0 at home to San Lorenzo of Argentina.
