December 12 – Argentinean giants Boca Juniors triumphed on penalties against Internacional of Brazil to set up a Copa Libertadores quarter-final against Racing Club as the competition moves into the business end of the season.
Last week, Boca Juniors failed to decide the tie in Porte Alegre with Carlos Tevez scoring the only goal of the match in a tribute to the late Diego Maradona, but at home Boca Juniors just squeezed past their Brazilian opponents.
Internacional demonstrated more attacking industry and were rewarded after the break when Boca Juniors’ Frank Fabra put the ball into the back of net from close range. The hosts responded and Tevez forced a fine save from Marcelo Lomba, but they couldn’t find an equalizer in regular time with Agustin Obando getting sent off in the last seconds of the match.
In the penalty shoot-out, Joao Peglow missed the fifth and last penalty for the Brazilians, handing Boca Juniors a 5-4 win and a ticket to the last eight of the competition where they will meet Racing Club, who eliminated reigning South American champions Flamengo.
Boca Juniors – Internacional was the only round-of-sixteen tie left after Conmebol agreed to postpone the first leg following the death of Maradona, but elsewhere the first two quarter-final matches delivered 1-1 draws.
Sao Paulo giants Palmeiras got a valuable away goal in Paraguay against Libertad, but finished the match with ten men when Lucas Lima was dismissed in the 96th minute. Pele’s former club Santos had Diego Evaristo send off in injury time, but also secured an important 1-1 draw away to Brazilian rivals and 2017 Copa Libertadores winners Gremio. Santos’ Copa Libertadores run has been all the more impressive given the financial turmoil at the club. River Plate will host Uruguay’s National in the first leg of their tie.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1732722151labto1732722151ofdlr1732722151owedi1732722151sni@o1732722151fni1732722151