Colo Colo thrash Caracas 4-0

Caracas:

Alexis Sanchez scored three goals and Edison Gimenez added another to give Colo Colo of Chile a 4-0 victory over Caracas FC on Tuesday.

It was the first victory in three games for Colo Colo, moving it within a point of Liga de Quito and River Plate, which will play a March 29 match in Buenos Aires.

Caracas remained atop Group 6 with six points after three games, two points ahead of Liga and River.

Outscored 5-2 in its two losses, Colo Colo dominated possession with short passing, while Caracas appeared defensive trying to slow forwards Ivan Velasquez and Wilson Carpintero.

Instead, Sanchez emerged, driving a powerful shot from 30 meters into the lower right corner for the lead in the 21st minute, paralyzing goalkeeper Javier Toyo, who apparently thought the shot was going wide.

Gimenez doubled the lead six minutes later, and Sanchez added his other goals in the 59th and 89th minutes.

The match was played in Francisco de Paula Santander stadium in the Colombian city of Cucuta, near the border with Venezuela, after the South American soccer confederation prohibited Caracas' Brigido Iriarte stadium since it does not meet the minimum capacity of 20,000.

Other stadiums in Venezuela were not available due to undergoing renovations for this year's Copa America.