Neymar (pictured) scored a goal and set up another as Santos topped their group with a 2-0 victory over The Strongest in the Copa Libertadores on Thursday.

The home side, playing in an unusual light-blue coloured strip had to wait until the 80th minute before finding a way past the Bolivians' stiff defence at the Vila Belmiro stadium.

The young starlet was able to breakthrough via a curling cross which was headed into the net by strike partner Alan Kardec. 

Two minutes later the home side doubled its lead when Borges combined with Neymar before the 20-year-old slid his shot past goalkeeper Daniel Vaca.

Former Manchester City midfielder Elano returned to Santos' starting line-up but struggled to make an impact and was replaced by Felipe Anderson in the 77th minute.

The result means Santos ends the tournament's first phase as leaders of Group 1 with 13 points from six games.

Compatriots Internacional (of Porto Alegre) also advanced to the next stage of the competition despite a 1-0 loss away to Peru's Juan Aurich in Chiclayo. Panama international Luis Tejada was the goalscorer for the home team, hitting the back of the net with a 14th-minute header.

*Photo by Getty Images.

Former Argentina goalkeeper Nery Pumpido has become the ninth coach to quit or be sacked in little more than two months in the 20-team Argentine first division.

Pumpido, who played for the team captained by Diego Maradona that won the 1986 World Cup, resigned on Sunday from Godoy Cruz after Saturday's 3-0 defeat by San Lorenzo left them with one win in 10 matches halfway through the Clausura championship.

"Unfortunately, cycles come to an end and mine's finished," said the 54-year-old, who steered Paraguay's Olimpia to victory in the Copa Libertadores 10 years ago.

Former Argentina coach Alfio Basile quit Racing Club at the weekend after the 4-1 derby defeat at Independiente.

The Clausura championship, second of two in the 2011-12 season, kicked off on February 10.

Boca Juniors striker Santiago Silva (pictured right) has joined the Argentine champions' growing injury list after breaking two fingers in a fist-fight with fans of first division rivals Tigre.

Fans insulted the shaven-headed Uruguayan nicknamed "El Tanque" (Tank) and other players as the team were boarding their bus after losing 2-1 at Tigre on Sunday, media reported.

Boca could face sanctions for their players' reaction and Tigre also for no police presence where the team bus was parked.

It was Boca's first defeat in 19 away matches while the home side ended a run of three losses with their first win in five games.

Silva, seen at Boca's Casa Amarilla training facility adjacent to the Bombonera with his right arm in a splint on Monday, was also treated for a knock on his knee.

"Sorry, I've got a splint," he told disappointed fans seeking an autograph.

Defender Facundo Roncaglia and midfielder Leandro Somoza are out for at least three weeks with pulled leg muscles, although captain Juan Román Riquelme is available again after injury.

Coach Julio César Falcioni is set to field several reserves at home to Venezuela's Zamora in their last Copa Libertadores group match fixture. They have already qualified and only top place in the group is at stake with Fluminense of Brazil, who visit Arsenal de Sarandí a few kilometres from the Bombonera, two points ahead of Boca.

Controversial Colombian striker Teófilo Gutiérrez (pictured right), who allegedly threatened his team mates with a paintball gun after being sent off in Saturday's heavy 4-1 defeat against arch-enemy Independiente, will not play for Racing Club again.

Local media reported fighting in the Racing changing room at Independiente as team mates turned on Gutiérrez after a senseless red card for insulting the referee left them with nine men for the final 21 minutes on Saturday. The striker then allegedly threatened them with a paintball gun.

"Teo will no longer be part of the professional squad," club president Gastón Cogorno said.

Trainer Alfio Basile, who has had two spells as Argentina coach also resigned after the derby defeat which left Racing five from bottom of the Clausura championship with nine points from 10 games. They are 11 points behind joint leaders Boca Juniors and Newell's Old Boys.

"We will seek a mutual way out but (Gutiérrez) won't play for Racing again," Cogorno said of the 26-year-old who has been sent off four times since joining the club from Trabzonspor of Turkey in February 2011.

"I haven't talked to Teo but I did with his agent and the investment group that brought him (to Racing) to explain to them why he won't play (for the club) any more.

Gutiérrez irritated team mates last year by returning late from international duty with Colombia. He was still put in the starting line-up by then coach Diego Simeone for that weekend's key match at Boca Juniors only to get himself sent off for pushing the referee for not awarding him a penalty.

The talented striker was joint top scorer of last year's Clausura, second of two 19-match championships in the Argentine season, with 11 goals. He has only netted nine this season, six in the Apertura and three in the Clausura.

Racing have appointed 31-year-old Luis Zubeldía, who has impressed at Lanús and Ecuador's Barcelona in his short coaching career, as Basile's replacement.

"I feel privileged. It's what all coaches want, to train a big club," Zubeldía told Racing TV. Seven-times league champions Racing are one of Argentina's so-called Big Five.

At his presentation news conference, Zubeldía refused to be drawn on Gutierrez.