Paraguayan champions Libertad became the first club to claim a spot in the Copa Libertadores final 16 on Wednesday with a classy 1-0 victory over San Lorenzo of Argentina.
Brazilian teams Sao Paulo and Cruzeiro moved closer to qualification with wins over Defensor Sporting of Uruguay and Bolivia’s Universitario de Sucre respectively on a congested day of six group-stage matches.
Pre-tournament favorites Boca Juniors survived an early scare before running out 3-1 winners over Guarani in Paraguay, while Colombian club Boyaca Chico also claimed three points from a 3-0 home win over Universidad de Chile.
PHOTO: EPA
San Luis of Mexico were held to a 2-2 draw by Peru’s Universitario in the day’s final match.
Libertad booked a place in the knock-out round thanks to an own goal by San Lorenzo defender Gaston Aguirre to claim a fourth straight Libertadores victory.
San Lorenzo, in search of the club’s first Libertadores title, will need a strong finish in the final two fixtures to qualify from Group 8, but stayed in touch with second place.
Mexican club San Luis let victory slip away in the final seconds of their home encounter with Universitario after twice taking the lead.
Young striker Jose Reyes headed the hosts ahead in the 26th minute, but Piero Alva equalized following a free-kick six minutes before halftime.
San Luis went back in front after Michael Orozco headed home a free-kick at the back post after 77 minutes, but Universitario rescued a point in stoppage time through Gianfranco Labarthe.
A first-half strike from Guarani’s Brazilian striker Negreiros put six-time former winners Boca Juniors under pressure in Group 2, but an apparent dive in the box by Argentine captain Hugo Ibarra convinced the referee and he awarded a penalty in the 66th minute.
Juan Roman Riquelme slotted home the spot-kick and substitutes Martin Palermo and Rodrigo Palacio sealed the win with strikes in the 76th minute and 86th minute.
The win put Boca clear in the group with nine points from three wins. Guarani are bottom with no points.
In Group 4, Brazilian champions Sao Paulo claimed victory in the top of the table clash with Uruguay’s Defensor Sporting.
Borges scored the winner in the 40th minute with a powerful blast past Uruguayan goalkeeper Martin Silva.
The win moved the Brazilians three clear of Defensor and Colombian club Independiente Medellin at the top of the group. Sao Paulo and Defensor have a game in hand over the Colombians.
Cruzeiro also consolidated top spot with a 2-0 win over Bolivia’s Universitario de Sucre in Group 5.
Wellington Paulista did the damage with a penalty in the 58th minute, before sealing the victory in the final minute.
Cruzeiro lead Group 5 with 10 points from four games.
Meanwhile, a 3-0 home victory for Boyaca Chico over Universidad de Chile boosted the Colombian club to the top of Group 7. Goals from Edwin Movil after three minutes, Wiston Giron in the 18th minute and Juan Gilberto Nunez on 70 minutes secured the win.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two