Cruzeiro and Santos edge ahead

Brazilian sides Cruzeiro and Santos closed in on the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals with first-leg successes in their respective last-16 duels on Wednesday.

Cruzeiro clinched a 2-1 away win over Colombia's Once Caldas, thanks to second-half goals in Manizales.

Wallyson gave Cruzeiro a 72nd-minute lead after Jose Ortigoza's cross picked him out.

Argentinian playmaker Walter Montillo, who had a hand in Wallyson's goal, was instrumental in the second too when his pass found Paraguayan Ortigoza, who beat Once Caldas goalkeeper Luis Enrique Martinez to make it 2-0.

Two minutes before the end of the match, Luis Nunez pulled one back for the Colombians with a header which found the goal via the post and Cruzeiro defender Vitor.

The winners of this tie will play Santos or Mexican giants America, and it is the former who hold the edge going into the second leg after claiming a 1-0 triumph at home with Paulo Henrique Ganso scoring the only goal in the 38th minute with a left-foot strike.

America defender Miguel Layun, who came in for Diego Cervantes in the 44th minute, was sent off in injury time and will miss the second leg next week in Mexico City.

Reigning Argentinian champions Estudiantes were held goalless at home by Paraguay's Cerro Porteno.

With five minutes to go, Cerro midfielder Rodrigo Burgos was shown a second yellow and will be suspended for the second leg in Asuncion next Thursday.

Cerro goalkeeper Diego Barreto, one of the men of the match, told Fox Sports: "Gaining a draw here is very important. We know how good Estudiantes are and the return game will not be easy at all.

"We are focused on winning this championship and I hope we can keep up this form.''

In Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico's Jaguares and Junior played out a 1-1 draw that gives the Colombian team the slight advantage ahead of the second leg.

Luis Paez put Junior ahead in the seventh minute when he turned in a Carlos Bacca cross from the right. However, Jackson Martinez headed home an Alan Zamora free-kick to equalise in the 57th minute, with the winners to face Estudiantes or Cerro Porteno in the last eight.