Boca Advance After Beating Cruzeiro

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Martin Palermo - Boca Juniors

The defending champions came into the match with a slender advantage, after picking up a 2-1 victory in Buenos Aires last week, and Cruzeiro dominated the initial thirty minutes of the match.

But despite their territorial domination, Cruzeiro lacked authority when moving forward, particularly because their midfield had little imagination.

The Brazilians were reduced to long distance efforts, that did not inflict any danger on Maurico Caranta's goal, as Boca began to come more into the match.

Boca striker Rodrigo Palacio had a great opportunity to put the Argentines ahead when he was put clear on goal, but his effort went awfully wide.

But the speedy striker redeemed himself in the 36th minute when he put Boca ahead, with a superb curling effort from just outside of the area, after a fast counterattack.

Two minutes before the half time break Martin Palermo doubled Boca's lead when he connected to a Jesus Datolo cross with a powerful header.

After the break Boca absorbed heavy pressure from Cruzeiro, who looked very desperate, because they knew that they needed to score four more goals.

Wagner pulled a goal back for them in the 56th minute with a simply outstanding scissor kick, that is without doubt the best goal the Copa Libertadores has seen until now.

Towards the end of the match a Marcelo Moreno header almost finished in a goal, but it rebounded off the post.

Boca held onto a boosting victory, and will face Atlas of Mexico in the quarterfinals of the competition. Atlas had beaten Lanus 3-2 on aggregate in the round of sixteen.

Round of Sixteen Results

Cruzeiro 1-2 Boca Juniors (Boca win 4-2 on agg)

Sao Paulo 2-0 Nacional (Sao Paulo win 2-0 on agg)

Flamengo 0-3 Club America (America win 5-4 on agg)

Gregory Sica