Rodriguez double downs Penarol

Two goals from defender Matias Rodriguez helped Universidad de Chile claim a 2-1 home win over Penarol in Group Eight of the Copa Libertadores on Tuesday. Rodriguez scored at the beginning and end of the game to help Jorge Sampaoli's side move up to second place in the pool with seven points, one fewer than Colombian side Atletico Nacional, with two matches remaining. Rodriguez opened the scoring in the second minute of the game after a Junior Fernandes cross that Penarol keeper Fabian Carini failed to hold. Ten minutes later, Universidad had the opportunity to double the lead, but Jose Rojas missed a penalty. Penarol equalised thanks to a Carlos Valdez header in the 51st minute, but Rodriguez beat Carini again in the second minute of injury time after an Eugenio Mena assist. "It was a must-win game to us. A very tough match. We fought more than we played good football. Victory is more important than the goals I can score," Rodriguez told Fox Sports. Penarol midfielder Luis Aguiar, whose side have collected only one point so far, said: "This team deserve the best. It's a shame that we are failing to guide Penarol to the next round." Penarol's Uruguayan rivals Nacional kept their hopes of progressing to the last 16 alive after they saw off Peru's Alianza Lima 1-0 in Group Five. A sole goal by Tabare Viudez in the 68th minute of the game gave Marcelo Gallardo's side their second group win at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo. Nacional, on six points, sit one point behind Brazil's Vasco da Gama and Libertad of Paraguay. Finally in Paraguay, hosts Nacional and Deportivo Tachira of Venezuela played out a goalless draw in Group Six.