Brazilian champions SC Corinthians Paulista and CA Boca Juniors of Argentina are in pole position to reach the final of the Copa Libertadores, Latin America’s top club competition.
Boca Juniors will face Club Universidad de Chile today after a 2-0 home win in the first leg of the semi-finals last week, while Corinthians will take a 1-0 advantage into the home leg against host Brazilian rivals and defending champions Santos.
Six-time champions Boca will be trying to reach their 10th final, while Corinthians will be looking to play for the title for the first time.
Boca have not lost an away match in this year’s tournament, winning twice and drawing once on the road in the group stage. They then defeated Club Union Espanola SADP 3-1 in the round of 16 and drew 1-1 at Fluminense in the quarter-finals.
The only match Boca Juniors have lost in this year’s Copa Libertadores was a 2-1 defeat to Fluminense at home in the group stage.
Universidad de Chile have won four of their five matches at home so far, two of which were by more than two goals — 5-1 against CD Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba in the group stage and 6-0 over SD Quito in the round of 16. Universidad de Chile’s only draw at home was against Club Libertad in the quarter-finals, but they still advanced on penalties.
Universidad de Chile have never won the Copa Libertadores and are trying to reach the final for the first time. CSD Colo-Colo are the only Chilean club to have won the competition, in 1991 in a final against Paraguay’s Club Olimpia.
Boca have won four of their six titles in the past 12 years, but haven’t lifted the trophy since 2007. They also won the competition in 2003, 2001 and 2000.
Corinthians, seeking their first Copa Libertadores title, haven’t lost a match at home or away this year.
With a stellar defensive setup, Corinthians have allowed only one goal so far, none at home. When playing at Pacaembu Stadium in Sao Paulo, which was to stage yesterday’s match against Santos, Corinthians have outscored their opponents 13-0. They have a 7-4 overall record.
“This isn’t happening only because of our defenders, the entire team is helping out. It makes it easier for us to do our job,” defender Leandro Castan told Brazilian media. “The whole team has to be praised.”
Corinthians are a popular club in Brazil, but have never had much success internationally. They won the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup in 2000, when they were invited as the host team.
Coach Tite has been resting some of their regular starters in the Brazilian league and the team are last in the 20-team standings after losing four of their first five matches.
Santos, looking for their fourth Copa Libertadores title, were outplayed during most of the first leg against Corinthians at home. Neymar was ineffective, as was the rest of the team, even after Corinthians striker Emerson was sent off near the end of the match.
Santos have won only one of their five away matches so far in this year’s Copa Libertadores —3-1 against Juan Aurich of Peru in the group stage.
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was