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Atletico Huila's match with Atletico Junior was split over two days in Colombia due to a power cut and torrential rain over the weekend.

Universidad de Chile will miss the knockout phase of the Chilean championship for the first time after a seventh successive game without a victory.

CHILE

Apertura title holders Universidad de Chile have failed to qualify for the Clausura championship quarter-finals after a 3-2 defeat by leaders Universidad Catolica in the big Santiago derby at the Monumental.

With one round of matches to go, four quarter-final places have been taken by Catolica, Audax Italiano, La Serena and Colo Colo, who won 2-0 at Cobresal 2-0 for a fifth straight victory.

Five teams were left fighting for the four other berths, Universidad de Concepcion, Santiago Morning, Rangers, Union Espanola and Everton.

"The U", who are 10th with 21 points from 16 matches, could catch one or more of the latter three who all have 24 points, with a win next weekend. However, it would not be enough since the other three have all won two more matches, the deciding factor.

Argentine coach Jose Basualdo's team will be looking to make amends in the Copa Sudamericana, the continent's Europa League equivalent, where they are in the quarter-finals.

Catolica secured a berth in the 2010 Libertadores Cup by ensuring they stay top. They have 35 points to second-placed Audax Italiano's 31.

COLOMBIA

Atletico Huila joined already qualified Independiente Medellin in the Clausura knockout stage when they completed a 2-1 victory over Atletico Junior on Sunday.

Ivan Velasquez scored Huila's goals on separate days, giving them the lead with a first-half penalty before Teofilo Gutierrez equalised in the 56th minute on Saturday.

With 67 minutes on the clock the lights went out. After a delay lasting more than an hour, power was restored but in the meantime a downpour had washed out the lines on the pitch.

The referee postponed the remaining 23 minutes for Sunday morning which is when Velasquez struck the winner with a tremendous shot from the halfway line in the 83rd minute.

Leaders Medellin beat Cucuta 2-1 with two Luis Arias goals to end a run of two consecutive defeats after they had already qualified.

Oscar Aristizabal resigned as coach of Envigado after their 2-1 home defeat by Atletico Nacional. They are bottom with nine points and only one win in 16 matches.

ECUADOR

Argentine striker Ivan Borghello scored a hat-trick as Deportivo Quito crushed Manta FC 4-0 to take the lead in Group One of the title-deciding third stage of the championship. Goal difference separates them from LDU Quito, who were held 0-0 at Macara.

Emelec, who started the third stage as favourites, lost 2-0 at Olmedo and are five points behind leaders Deportivo Cuenca in Group Two.

PERU

Universitario opened an eight-point lead in Group B with a last-minute 1-0 win at bottom team Bolognesi, while second-placed Sport Huancayo lost 2-1 away to Alianza Atletico.

Nolberto Solano was sent off for retaliation in the 83rd minute leaving Universitario with 10 men but defender Renzo Revoredo scored the winner in the final minute.

Universitario's arch rivals Alianza Lima also stayed on course for the title play-offs. They went four points clear in Group A by beating CNI 2-1 while Juan Aurich were held 0-0 by Cesar Vallejo.

PARAGUAY

Olimpia, known as the "Dean", fell six points off the pace in fourth place with a surprise 1-0 defeat away to 12 de Octubre. Joint leaders Libertad and Nacional both won 2-0.

"We lacked attitude, we played at walking," said Olimpia coach Carlos Kiese.

VENEZUELA

Champions Caracas FC notched up their eighth consecutive win, 2-1 away to Estudiantes de Merida. They lead the Apertura championship by three points from Deportivo Italia.

URUGUAY

Nacional beat Cerro 2-0 for their third consecutive victory to join Liverpool at the top of the Apertura championship.

Coach Eduardo Acevedo, impressed with the midfield performances of 20-year-old Nicolas Lodeiro and 34-year-old Argentine Angel Morales, said: "There's not the least doubt, we're going to be champions."

Reuters