Tuta fires Gremio into contention

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Former champions Gremio pulled themselves back into contention in their Libertadores Cup group with a 1-0 win over ultra-defensive Deportes Tolima.

Modest Chilean side Audax Italiano kept up the pressure on Brazilian champions Sao Paulo by beating Alianza Lima 1-0 in the evening's other tie.

A clinically-taken goal by striker Tuta in the 21st minute gave Brazil's Gremio, winners in 1995 under current Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, the points against the Colombian provincial side in the Group Three match in Porto Alegre.

Ramon crossed from the right, the Tolima defense failed to clear and Tuta, tightly marked and with his back to goal, still managed to control the ball before scoring with a shot on the turn.

Tolima, who pulled off a shock win over Gremio earlier in the group, made no serious attempt to win the match and gave goalkeeper Sebastian Saja few alarms.

They included only one striker in their starting line-up and left forward Darwin Quintero, who had given Gremio a torrid time in the first match, on the bench.

The win left the two sides level at the top of the group with seven points from four games. Both have a goal difference of plus one. Paraguay's Cerro Porteno have four points and Colombian champions Cucuta three.

Rodolfo Moya took advantage of a defensive mistake to score the only goal for Audax Italiano against Peruvian champions Alianza Lima in a wet and near-deserted National stadium in Santiago.

Audax, who have seven points from four games, went second in Group Two, two behind Mexico's Necaxa who have played a game less.

Brazilian champions Sao Paulo, who won the tournament in 1992, 1993 and 2005, were left in third place with four points. Alianza have lost all four games.