QUITO, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Yeferson Soteldo and Marinho scored either side of half-time as Santos took a step towards qualifying for the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals with a 2-1 win at LDU Quito on Tuesday.
Soteldo put the visitors ahead in the seventh minute by taking a touch to control Marcos Para's cross before rifling an unstoppable shot past goalkeeper Adrian Gabbarini.
Marinho doubled the lead just before the hour mark, converting from the penalty spot after he was brought down by Andersson Ordonez.
The result means Santos need only a draw in the return fixture in Brazil next Tuesday to advance to the last eight of South America's premier club competition.
Meanwhile, Gabriel Barbosa scored just his second goal of the campaign as defending champions Flamengo earned a 1-1 draw at Racing Club.
The former Inter Milan striker tapped in at the far post after a Bruno Henrique cross to cancel out Hector Fertoli's 13th minute opener.
In Tuesday's only other fixture, Paulo Diaz scored in second-half injury time as Argentina's River Plate clinched a 1-1 draw with 10-man Athletico Paranaense in Brazil.
The hosts had taken the lead through Guilherme Bissoli just before the hour mark but the course of the match changed nine minutes later when teenage forward Reinaldo was shown a second yellow card for a bad tackle. Enditem
