Vélez Sarsfield confirmed their title credentials with a third consecutive win in Group 5 to lead the group with maximum points from their three games. The Argentine side are now odds-on for a first-place finish, which would earn them the right to play the second leg of the next round's knockout ties on home turf.

São Paulo also continued their perfect start to the campaign with a home win over Peruvian side Cienciano, making it two wins out of two for the defending champions. Fans of River Plate, Independiente Santa Fe, Sporting Cristal, Rocha FC and Tigres UANL also had reason to celebrate as their sides bagged all three points in their respective encounters. Read on as FIFA.com rounds up all this week's games.

"V" for Victory
Vélez Sarsfield took another giant step towards the third round with a 1-0 away win over Peru's Universitario in Lima, where Leandro Gracián's perfectly placed free-kick separated the two sides. Vélez coach Miguel Russo later had this to say about his side's win: "We know that we didn't play well, but this is the Libertadores and winning away against opponents who also need the points is no mean feat. Nevertheless, there's still a long way to go." The Argentine team's second away win leaves them on nine points, five clear of closest Group 5 rivals Rocha FC of Uruguay.

The Uruguayans themselves put in quite a performance in their 3-2 away win over mighty Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito on Tuesday. The Charrúa side got their goals through Pedro Cardoso (2) and Marcelo Segales, with Agustín Delgado and Patricio Urrutia replying for the home side. "A combination of sacrifice, suffering and the intelligence to capitalise on the opposition's mistakes saw Rochas record a historic win," declared the Uruguayan daily El País.

The day's play drew to a close with Venezuela's Caracas FC picking up their first Group 1 point in a shock 1-1 draw away to Mexican side Chivas Guadalajara. The home side's goal came from Sergio Santana with Wilson Carpintero notching for the visitors. "Everyone underestimated Caracas - Chivas, the fans and even the media," slammed the Récord newspaper, adding that the draw "felt like a defeat" thanks to the home side's "dull and disappointing" performance. 

São Paulo looking comfortable as River struggle
São Paulo FC took advantage of Chivas's slip-up to move clear in first place in Group 1 with a convincing 4-1 home win over Cienciano of Peru on Wednesday. The Brazilian side cruised home with goals from Fabao, Alex Dias and Thiago (2), with Cienciano's Roberto Silva having scored an early equaliser. Silva's goal was the first the reigning champions have conceded in their last five home games in the Libertadores. "We got it spot on by bringing on Thiago, he helped us kill off the game," summed up coach Muricy Ramalho.

The week's most dramatic encounter was played out in Buenos Aires, where River Plate came from 1-3 down to defeat Ecuador's El Nacional 4-3 and pick up their first points so far. Los Millonarios scored through Ernesto Farías, Jonathan Santana, and Daniel Montenegro before captain Marcelo Gallardo fired the winner eight minutes from time. On the score sheet for the visitors were Christian Lara and Félix Borja (2).

River hero Gallardo refused to get carried away by his side's win: "We can't let our happiness at turning the scoreline around overshadow the mistakes we made." In the away dressing room, Lara was left to rue two missed opportunities. "I had two chances to kill the game off when we were 3-1 up, but I didn't take them and we've paid a heavy price. The team played well but that's no consolation for me because we lost," said the midfielder. Paraguay's Libertad lead Group 8 with four points, followed by River on three, Paulista with two and El Nacional with one.

Group leaders keep their cool; Brazilians suffer first defeat
With Group 2 turning out to be one of the most fiercely contested in this year's competition, leaders Independiente Santa Fe of Colombia moved onto seven points with a 3-1 defeat of Argentine side Estudiantes de La Plata in Bogota. Mariano Pavone's strike for Los Pincharratas (the Ratcatchers) put the visitors ahead before their Colombian hosts turned the tables with goals from David Montoya, Gabriel Gómez and Luis Yanes. Bolivia's Bolívar stay in second place on four points, despite losing 2-1 away to Peru's Sporting Cristal. Gustavo Vassallo and Reiner Torre scored for Cristal with Daner Pachi reducing the deficit for the visitors. Sporting Cristal and Estudiantes share last place with three points apiece. 

Meanwhile in Group 6, a 2-1 away win for Brazilian side Internacional against UNAM Pumas took them clear at the top of the table, leaving the Mexicans on the brink of elimination. José Luis López put the Aztec side in front only for Internacional to hit back with goals from Wasson Rentería and Fernandao. The team from Porto Alegre top the table with seven points, followed by Venezuelan surprise package Unión Atlético Maracaibo with five. The Venezuelans secured a priceless point as they held Nacional to a 0-0 draw in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo. The Uruguayans are in third place with four points, with last-placed UNAM Pumas yet to pick up a point so far.

In the week's final game, Tigres UANL put an end to the unbeaten run of the Brazilian sides in this season's competition with a 2-0 home win over Corinthians in Monterrey. Things went from bad to worse for Corinthians, with Argentine star striker Carlos Tevez going off injured as his side went down to goals from Wendel (own goal) and Sixto Peralta. Tigres move to the top of Group 4 with six points, Corinthians share second place with Chile's Universidad Católica on four, with pointless Deportivo Cali of Colombia bringing up the rear.

Results

Tuesday 7 March
Rocha FC  3 - 2  Liga Dep. Universitaria Quito
Universitario  0 - 1  Vélez Sarsfield
Chivas Guadalajara 1 - 1  Caracas FC

Wednesday 8 March
Sporting Cristal  2 - 1  Bolívar
River Plate  4 - 3  El Nacional
São Paulo FC  4 - 1  Cienciano
Pumas UNAM  1 - 1  Internacional

Thursday 9 March
Nacional (URU)  0 - 0  Unión Atl. Maracaibo
Independiente Santa Fe  3 - 1  Estudiantes de La Plata
Tigres UANL  2 - 0  Corinthians