A brace from Paraguayan striker Alex Arce and a goal from Argentine Lisandro Alzugaray gave Liga de Quito a 3–2 win over Deportivo Táchira on Wednesday, knocking the Venezuelans out of the Copa Libertadores in matchday 4 of Group C. The victory also puts the Ecuadorian side temporarily at the top of the group.

Alzugaray opened the scoring in the 16th minute, and Arce doubled the lead just four minutes later. The Paraguayan forward bagged his second and Liga’s third in the 55th minute. Táchira managed to pull one back through Nelson Hernández in the 68th, making it 3–1.

Early red card, late push from Táchira

Just as Pablo ‘Vitamina’ Sánchez’s side was starting to find its rhythm, things fell apart when Bryan Ramírez was shown a straight red in the 21st minute, forcing Táchira to play most of the match a man down. Even with the numerical disadvantage, Liga de Quito kept control and held onto their lead.

The Venezuelan side left it way too late. In the 95th minute, Bryan Castillo grabbed a second goal for Táchira, but it was too little, too late. To make matters worse, Carlos Vivas was also sent off in that final play, leaving the hosts with ten men at the final whistle.

Liga take control, Táchira crash out

With this result, Liga de Quito climb to the top of Group C with 8 points, ahead of Central Córdoba on 7 and Flamengo on 4—those two will face off later in Argentina. Meanwhile, Deportivo Táchira, still without a single point after four matches, are officially out of the tournament.

Next up in matchday 5: Táchira host Central Córdoba on May 13, and Liga de Quito travel to Brazil to face Flamengo on May 15.