River Plate beats Barcelona SC to eye Libertadores last 16

BUENOS AIRES, May 8 (Xinhua) -- River Plate edged closer to qualifying for the Copa Libertadores knockout stage on Thursday with a 3-2 away victory over Barcelona SC.

Sebastian Driussi and Facundo Colidio scored either side of Octavio Rivero's 15th-minute strike as River took a 2-1 lead into the halftime break.

Teenager Franco Mastantuono continued his impressive recent form after the restart by slotting home from close range after combining with Miguel Borja.

The visitors gifted the Ecuadorian side a second goal when Lucas Martinez Quarta inadvertently turned the ball into his own net.

But River survived a tense final half hour to claim its second win of the campaign and maintain top spot in Group B.

In Colombia, Kevin Viveros scored twice as Atletico Nacional cruised to a 3-1 home win over Brazil's Internacional.

Elsewhere on Thursday, Olimpia drew 1-1 at Velez Sarsfield, and Talleres Cordoba was held to a goalless home draw by Libertad. ■