Soccer-South American roundup-Three off in Ecuador port derby

BUENOS AIRES Aug 9 (Reuters) - Three players were sent off in a steaming hot "Shipyard Classic" in Ecuador at the weekend.

Peruvian champions Universitario had an unhappy 86th anniversary with two players shown the red card in a 1-1 draw.

ECUADOR

The "Shipyard Classic" derby played in 32 degrees heat in the port city of Guayaquil between Emelec, the home team at their George Capwell ground, and Barcelona ended with three players sent off and no goals.

Barcelona midfielder Matias Oyola was sent off in the 76th minute and substitute Luis Garces followed in the 81st. Emelec's Argentine striker Santiago Biglieri was shown the red card four minutes from time.

The visiting side's goalkeeper Maximo Banguera was man of the match as he prevented an Emelec rout with a string of fine saves, especially in the closing minutes. Emelec had seven shots on target and Biglieri hit the post.

Barcelona remain one point behind leaders Deportivo Cuenca, held 0-0 by Olmedo, in the second phase of the championship. Emelec, four points off the pace, won the first phase.

PERU

Defending champions Universitario, who were celebrating the 86th anniversary of their founding, had striker Piero Alva sent off in the 57th minute after elbowing an opponent and Peru defender John Galliquio dismissed in the 72nd for a second booking in a 1-1 draw with Leon de Huanuco.

Universitario led from the seventh minute when Gianfranco Labarthe put them ahead following a fine move involving Alva and Rainer Torres. With "La U" down to nine men, Leon equalised with a Luis Perea penalty eight minutes from time.

San Martin, nine points clear at the top of the standings, need one more point from the remaining three matches to win the first phase of the championship after a 3-0 away win over Alianza Atletico.

Alianza Lima, joint second with Cesar Vallejo, saw a five-match winning streak end in a 2-1 away defeat by Inti Gas. Cesar Vallejo beat Melgar 1-0.

CHILE

Universidad Catolica beat Palestino 1-0 at the Santa Laura in Santiago to edge within a point of leaders Colo Colo, who were upset 2-1 by Cobreloa with two goals from Paraguayan striker Marco Lazaga.

After 19 rounds, Colo Colo have 41 points and Catolica, coached by Argentine-born former Spain striker Juan Antonio Pizzi, 40.

Universidad de Chile, beaten in the Libertadores Cup semi-finals last week, went down 2-1 to Deportes La Serena in the northern city of Coquimbo. They are third with 36 points and a game in hand.

PARAGUAY

Apertura title holders Guarani and Libertad share the lead after four rounds of matches in the Clausura championship with Cerro Porteno, the only unbeaten team after a 1-1 draw with Sportivo Luqueno, one point behind.

Guarani beat Tacuary 1-0 and Libertad knocked previous leaders Rubio Nu off the top of the table with 2-1 home win.

VENEZUELA

Champions FC Caracas opened the Apertura championship with a 3-0 home win over Monagas. Their new signing Heatklif Castillo scored twice including one goal with an overhead scissors kick.

Deportivo Tachira gave Colombian coach Jorge Luis Pinto a winning debut when they beat Yaracuyanos 1-0.

COLOMBIA

Independiente Santa Fe conceded a stoppage time equaliser for a 2-2 draw at Real Cartagena but went top of the Clausura standings, one point ahead of Cucuta, who lost 1-0 away to Deportes Tolima.

Apertura winners Atletico Junior were held 1-1 away by Millonarios in Bogota.

BOLIVIA

Argentine striker Julian Di Cosmo scored a hat-trick as The Strongest beat Real Mamore 3-0 to stay top of the Clausura championship race.

They share the lead with San Jose, who beat Apertura title holders Wilstermann 3-1. Wilstermann are bottom with one point after three matches. (Additional reporting by Claudio Cerda in Santiago) (Editing by Justin Palmer; to query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)