Independiente Medellin advance to Copa Libertadores group stage

TUCUMAN, Argentina -- Midfielder Adrian Arregui converted the decisive spot-kick as Independiente Medellin secured a berth in the Copa Libertadores group stage on Tuesday by beating Atletico Tucuman 4-2 on penalties.

A first-half strike from Leonardo Heredia drew the Argentinian side level on aggregate after Medellin's 1-0 victory in Colombia last week.

Leandro Diaz and Augusto Lotti both missed their penalty shootout attempts before Arregui, who is on loan from Argentina's Temperley, held his nerve with the last kick of the match.

The result assured Medellin of a place in Group H alongside Boca Juniors, Caracas FC and Libertad. The Colombian side's first match will be at home to Libertad on March 3.

In other second-leg qualifiers that will decide the composition of the eight Copa Libertadores groups, Paraguay's Cerro Porteno will host Barcelona de Guayaquil on Wednesday after the latter won the first leg in Ecuador.

Also on Wednesday, Brazil's Internacional will host Deportes Tolima after a goalless draw in Colombia while on Thursday Guarani are home to Palestino after the Paraguayan side won the first leg 1-0 in Chile.