A 2-0 first leg victory proved insufficient as Unión slumped to defeat by the same margin in Quito on Wednesday and were ultimately dispatched by Independiente del Valle on penalties.

Leonardo Madelón’s side would have had hopes of progressing to at least the next round, where Copa Libertadores dropouts enter the competition, but were immediately on the back foot in the energy-sapping altitude of Quito.

A warning shot in the first minute saw Jhon Sánchez volley over unmarked from eight yards out and it wasn’t long before the home side reduced the deficit, Alejandro Cabeza outmuscling Yeimar Gómez before cutting inside to slot the ball past Nereo Fernández.

Firmly on top Independiente del Valle just needed another to level the tie and it came shortly after half time as Cristián Dájome’s low cross from the right was turned into his own net by Yeimar Gómez.

Another goal at either end before the 90 minutes were up would have been decisive but neither side could find it forcing the tie to spot kicks. The home side were perfect and so after first Maxi Cuadra and then Jonathan Bottinelli missed for Unión it was left to Luis Ayala to seal the victory.

Independiente Del Valle  2 – 0  Unión (AGG 2-2)
4-2 on penalties

👐🔥🇪🇨Los goles, penales y el festejo: lo mejor del triunfo de @IDV_EC ante @clubaunion y la clasificación a la Segunda Fase de la #CONMEBOLSudamericana 🏆 pic.twitter.com/GFolegPw55

— CONMEBOL Sudamericana (@Sudamericana) April 18, 2019

Closer to home, in Salta, River Plate booked their place in the next round of the Copa Argentina with what was eventually a comfortable win over Primera D club Argentino de Merlo.

However, the lower league side certainly made life difficult for the Copa Libertadores champions and it took until the 69th minute for River to find a way through. A weak punch by goalkeeper Guillermo Pedelacq allowed Rafael Santos Borré, desperate to rediscover his fine form from 2018, to fire in from an acute angle.

That goal ended Argentino’s resistance and soon after Santos Borré turned provider with a cross to the back post for Matías Suárez to volley in. Súarez would seal the victory skipping around Pedelacq to make it three in stoppage time and with that River booked their place in the next round against Nacional B outfit Gimnasia de Mendoza.

River Plate  3 – 0  Argentino de Merlo