CHILE
Four players were shown the red card in Universidad Catolica's win over Palestino, two from each side, and their coaches Marco Antonio Figueroa and Jorge Aravena almost came to blows after the first dismissal.
Catolica midfielder Jorge Ormeno was the first to be sent off after half an hour for a dangerous tackle. Team mate David Henriquez and Palestino's Nicolas Canales followed on the stroke of halftime for fighting. German Navea of the home side was dismissed seven minutes from time for a second booking.
Midfielder Milovan Mirosevic headed Catolica's winning goal one minute from time.
Uruguayan striker Juan Manuel Olivera scored three times as Universidad de Chile won 4-2 at La Serena to take their goals tally to nine after two matches in the Apertura championship.
Champions Colo Colo, Universidad's arch-rivals, bounced back from defeat last weekend to promoted Union San Felipe with a 3-1 win over Cobreloa.
"The U", under new Uruguayan coach Gerardo Pelusso, were two up after five minutes with Olivera's first, a header, and a free kick by midfielder Marco Estrada.
Olivera completed his hat-trick in the second half with a penalty followed by another header.
COLOMBIA
Striker Jorge Perlaza hit a hat-trick to hand Deportes Tolima a 3-1 home win over Deportivo Cali at the start of the Apertura championship.
Forward Fernando Uribe also struck three goals for Once Caldas in their 4-3 defeat at Real Cartagena.
Title holders Independiente Medellin were held 0-0 by Independiente Santa Fe.
URUGUAY
Champions Nacional were held to a 1-1 draw at Tacuarembo while arch-rivals Penarol won 2-1 away to Cerro.
Liverpool, with Penarol the only two teams to have taken maximum points from two matches, won 2-1 away to Atenas in San Carlos where the second half was played in torrential rain.
VENEZUELA
Real Esppor, surprise leaders after two matches, were toppled from the top of the Clausura standings at home in El Paraiso by Deportivo Tachira, winners of the Apertura championship in December, who beat them 2-1 away.
Tachira goalkeeper Manuel Sanhouse conceded his first goal after 596 minutes, while Esppor defender Luigi Erazo was sent off just past the hour.
Deportivo Italia beat Yaracuyanos 4-1 to go level with Tachira at the top, both one point ahead of Esppor after three matches.
