Independiente Rivadavia beat La Guaira 4-2

Independiente Rivadavia left Venezuela with more than three points. The Argentine club’s 4-2 win over Deportivo La Guaira on May 21 secured first place in Copa Libertadores Group C with one match still to play, according to CONMEBOL. Alex Arce scored a hat-trick, Sebastián Villa added the other goal, and Matías Fernández supplied three assists as the Mendoza side stayed unbeaten through five group matches. (gol.conmebol.com) The result also underlined how quickly the club has adapted to its first Libertadores campaign. (gol.conmebol.com) CONMEBOL said Independiente Rivadavia reached 13 points from five matches and guaranteed that none of its Group C rivals could catch it at the top. The governing body also said the team had scored 15 goals, the highest total in the tournament at that point. (gol.conmebol.com) ### How did Independiente Rivadavia take control in Caracas? Alex Arce gave Independiente Rivadavia the lead and Villa soon made it 2-0 after a move finished by the Colombian forward, according to CONMEBOL’s match report. The governing body said Fernández was central to both sequences, first helping create Arce’s opener and then delivering the pass that preceded Villa’s finish. (gol.conmebol.com) Matías Fernández then became the main provider on the night. CONMEBOL said the midfielder finished with three assists, including service for more Arce goals as Independiente Rivadavia’s front three again drove the attack. (gol.conmebol.com) ### Why was Arce the central figure again? Alex Arce recorded his second hat-trick of the 2026 Libertadores, CONMEBOL said, and moved level with no one at the top of the scoring standings. The Paraguayan striker’s eight goals made him the tournament’s leading scorer after five rounds, according to the match report and social posts cited in the briefing. (gol.conmebol.com) The 30-year-old’s run has become one of the stories of the group stage. CONMEBOL described Arce as “máximo artillero” of the competition and said his performances had put him among the most prominent players in this year’s tournament. (gol.conmebol.com) ### What does the win settle in Group C? Group C was settled at the top by the result in Caracas. CONMEBOL said Independiente Rivadavia, already qualified for the round of 16 before kickoff, used the win to lock up first place with 13 points from five matches. The standings before Thursday had Bolívar and Fluminense on five points and La Guaira on three, according to CONMEBOL’s table. (gol.conmebol.com) After the win over La Guaira, Independiente Rivadavia moved beyond reach regardless of the final round. ### Who else shaped the result besides Arce? Sebastián Villa remained a major part of the attack. CONMEBOL said Villa crossed for Arce’s first goal and scored one himself, while Fernández completed what the governing body called Alfredo Berti’s attacking trio. (gol.conmebol.com) Alfredo Berti’s side has paired that attack with consistency. CONMEBOL said Independiente Rivadavia was one of four unbeaten teams left in the competition after the fifth round. (gol.conmebol.com) ### What comes next for Independiente Rivadavia? Bolívar are next on the schedule for Independiente Rivadavia in the final Group C round. (gol.conmebol.com) CONMEBOL’s Libertadores site said the Argentine club will travel to La Paz, and CONMEBOL’s competition page listed upcoming group-stage matches from May 26 as the last round of the phase begins. The next milestone after that is the round of 16. (gol.conmebol.com) Independiente Rivadavia have already secured their place there, and they will enter the knockout draw as Group C winners after the 4-2 victory in Caracas. (gol.conmebol.com)