RIO DE JANEIRO, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Argentine striker Jose Manuel Lopez scored late as Brazil's Palmeiras clinched a 2-1 home win over Peruvian side Sporting Cristal in the Copa Libertadores group stage on Thursday.

Sporting defender Juan Gonzalez cancelled out Murilo Cerqueira's opener, but Lopez restored the hosts' lead by converting an 80th-minute penalty after Arthur was fouled by Joao Cuenca.

The result leaves Palmeiras top of Group F with four points, one ahead of second-placed Sporting.

"I'd gone three games without scoring but I prepared as best I could for this game and thankfully it paid off," Lopez told reporters after the match. "These are three important points in our journey and now we have to keep fighting."

In Argentina, a second-half strike from Colombian forward Yoshan Valois gave Lanus a 1-0 home win over Bolivia's Always Ready. The hosts went ahead in the 67th minute when goalkeeper Alain Baroja failed to grasp Marcelino Moreno's tame free kick and Valois reacted fastest to tap in the rebound.

Lanus is now third in Group G, behind Brazil's Mirassol on goal difference while Always Ready is last.

In Rio de Janeiro, defending champion Flamengo scored twice in each half to cruise to a 4-1 home win over Independiente Medellin.

Lucas Paqueta and Bruno Henrique netted either side of Yony Gonzalez's 40th-minute strike, before Giorgian de Arrascaeta and Pedro added second-half goals as Flamengo registered its second win in as many games.

In Thursday's only other Copa Libertadores fixture, Franco Zapiola's 63rd-minute penalty gave Platense a 2-1 win at Penarol. ■