Boca Juniors Only Manage To Edge Cruzeiro

Boca started the better of the two sides, and pushed forward in large numbers trying to catch Cruzeiro off guard early on in the half.

And their fast start paid off, as in the 6th minute Juan Roman Riquelme put them ahead when he fired the ball past Fabio from close range after meeting an Alvaro Gonzalez cross from the right wing.

Carlos Ischia's side continued to pile heavy pressure on the Cruzeiro goal, but although they created many chances the likes of Rodrigo Palacio and Martin Palermo were completely off touch.

The Brazilians came more into the match as the half progressed, and although they demonstrated their skill in the midfield, they didn't look dangerous when moving forward. They had a penalty claim turned down after a clear hand ball in the area.

Star striker Marcelo Moreno, who is the top scorer of the Copa Libertadores could barely get a touch of the ball, because he was closely marked by the Boca defense.

Late on in the half Boca should have doubled their lead, but Palermo fired the ball over the bar when he had a goal at his mercy.

Boca pushed forward in the second half and should have scored when Palermo put Palacio through on goal, but the speedy striker blasted the ball over the bar.

By now the Argentines were completely dominating their opponents, but they wasted several clear opportunities to extend their advantage.

In the 65th minute Boca finally doubled their lead through Jesus Datolo, who met a ball in the box, skipped past a defender, and blasted the ball home.

Minutes later Palermo was put through, but the veteran's effort came off the left post. Gonzalez had an empty goal to shoot at, but the Uruguayan shot incredibly wide.

In the 76th minute Cruzeiro pulled a goal back when a long distance effort from Fabricio took a wild deflection off Gonzalez, and fooled Boca goalkeeper Mauricio Caranta.

With fives minutes remaining in the second half Boca almost restored their lead when a powerful long distance Riquelme drive was saved by an alert Fabio.

The match was suspended with a couple of minutes still remaining, when one of the linesmen was hit on the head by an object thrown from the stands. Boca should be disappointed with a 2-1 win that should have been by a much larger margin.

Gregory Sica