They paid in the 75th minute when striker Pizzi fired Rosario ahead with his third goal of the competition. Federico Arias added a second two minutes from time when he broke clear of the defence and fired past Bernardo Leyenda. Rosario finished top of group one with 13 points from their six games followed by Junior Barranquilla of Colombia who also went through with ten. Velez finished third with nine. The result sent leaders Cruz Azul of Mexico into the last 16 and left Defensor Sporting, Olmedo and Sao Caetano battling for second place in group seven.
All teams have one match remaining.
Sao Caetano, a small club who surprisingly reached the final of last year's Joao Havelange Cup, and Olmedo, who last year became the first provincial club to win the Ecuadorean title, are both in the tournament for the first time. Cesar, who made his Brazil debut against Ecuador last month, scored his first goal in the 28th minute after breaking clear of the defence and place the ball past goalkeeper Jorge Corozo. His second came in the 78th minute when he chested the ball down and scored with a first time shot. Adaozinho had put Sao Caetano ahead in the 18th minute, scoring after Esquerdinha had beaten two defenders to set up the chance. Defensor Sporting are favourites to go through with Cruz Azul as they are at home to Sao Caetano in their last game while Olmedo travel to Cruz Azul.