02 May 2009
By Carlos Mauricio Ramirez, Caracas FC Press

The Copa Santander Libertadores group stages have officially come to a close with Caracas FC the only surviving Venezuelan team.

Brazil have five representatives in the last 16, Argentina, Uruguay and Mexico two each, while Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Chile have one apiece.

Colombia and Bolivia saw their sides beaten in the group stages.

This, then, is how the last 16 line up appears:

   1. Gremio, Brazil vs (16) Universidad de San Martin, Peru.
   2. Boca Juniors, Argentina vs (15) Defensor Sporting, Uruguay.
   3. Nacional, Uruguay vs (14) San Luis FC, Mexico.
   4. Sao Paulo FC, Brazil vs (13) Chivas de Guadalajara, Mexico.
   5. Cruzeiro, Brazil vs (12) Universidad de Chile, Chile.
   6. Sport Recife, Brazil vs (11) Palmeiras, Brazil.
   7. Libertad, Paraguay vs (10) Estudiantes de la Plata, Argentina.
   8. Caracas FC vs (9) Deportivo Cuenca, Ecuador.

The Reds will visit Deportivo Cuenca on Thursday, May 7th for the opening leg at their ground which lies 2,550 feet above sea level before returning to the UCV’s Olympic Stadium for the return tie on Tuesday, May 12.

To their fans, the Ecuadorians are known as ¨the sly ones¨ and in their national league are currently in eighth place on 15 points, eight behind leaders Espoli.

Cuenca will face their third Venezuelan opponents in this season’s Copa Santander Libertadores (i.e. all three who entered the competition), having lost 2-0 to Dvo. Anzoategui in Puerto La Cruz before winning the home leg 3-0 in the preliminary stage.

After that, Cuenca dispatched Dvo. Tachira in the group matches after losing 1-0 in Venezuela but defeating Tachira 3-1 in Ecuador.

Tachira’s loss to Boca Juniors on Thursday night in Buenos Aires and Cuenca’s draw with Guarani in the final group games decided the outcome.  

So, the scene is set for the last 16 to commence and it’s fingers crossed for Caracas FC.