Copa Libertadores semi-final: Universidad 0 Boca Juniors 0 (0-2 agg)

Boca Juniors held Universidad de Chile to a 0-0 draw on Thursday, progressing to the Copa Libertadores final with a 2-0 aggregate win.

Goals from Santiago Silva and Juan Sanchez Mino had secured victory for Boca in the first leg at La Bombonera on June 14.

And they kept their hosts goal-less in the return fixture at Estadio Nacional to set up a final against Brazilian side Corinthians.

Boca created the first real chance in the eighth minute of the match, when Pablo Mouche latched onto a ball over the top and drove to the by-line.

He delivered a cutback from the left which was met by Juan Roman Riquelme, but his first-time volley rattled the bar.

It served to shock the hosts into action and they began to apply more pressure in the Boca half, but continued to leave too many spaces at the back.

The visitors from Argentina could have opened the scoring again when Mouche showed great pace to spring the offside trap, only to produce a tame effort which Universidad goalkeeper Johnny Herrera gathered easily.

At the other end, Junior Fernandes beat Rolando Schiavi to Marcelo Diaz’s free kick in the 24th minute, forcing Boca shot-stopper Agustin Orion to dive to his left and turn the header behind for a corner.

Universidad’s defensive lapses became more worrying as Riquelme began to find his passing range.

He picked out Mouche twice with through-balls but the 24-year-old was proving less than clinical in front of goal and he failed to make the most of both chances.

Universidad emerged for the second half looking far more at ease on the ball and produced less errant passes.

During the break Sebastian Ubilla replaced Francisco Castro and one of his first actions was to win a free kick in the 53rd minute, which Diaz saw come back off the frame of the goal.

Mouche’s profligacy in the area continued with another limp effort on goal moments later. The inaccuracy seemed to be contagious, as Riquelme sent a low shot straight into the arms of Herrera.

Diaz continued to be the main threat for the hosts and on the hour mark he unleashed a ferocious 20-yard strike that arrowed towards Orion’s goal. It was struck sweetly but the keeper had eyes on it all the way and turned it over the bar.

With 72 minutes on the clock Eugenio Mena sent a ball into the box from wide on the left.

Angelo Henriquez found space between the centre-backs to get his head on it and aimed for the far corner but Orion was equal to it.

Universidad’s disappointing night was summed up late on, when Raul Ruidiaz struck the bar for the second time.

And no fewer than three players failed to make contact with a flick on from Diaz’s corner in the 88th minute.

Boca remained resolute until the whistle and will be aiming to win their seventh Copa Libertadores crown when they tackle Corinthians over two legs on June 27 and July 4, with the first match in Buenos Aires.