Copa Libertadores Wrap: Boca into last eight

Boca Juniors are into the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores after their 1-1 draw with Corinthians on Wednesday.

Having enjoyed a 1-0 win in the first leg in Buenos Aires a fortnight ago, Boca were in the drivers’ seat for the second leg in Sao Paulo – a clash that was a rematch of last year’s Copa Libertadores final, which Corinthians won 2-0.

It was Corinthians who started the brighter and thought they had earned a penalty early on when Leandro Marin appeared to handle the ball inside the area, but the home side’s appeals were turned away.

Boca took the lead against the run of play after 25 minutes, with veteran Juan Riquelme blasting an unstoppable shot past Cassio in the Corinthians goal.

Paulinho gave the hosts hope, heading home Emerson Sheik’s cross six minutes after half-time to put the scores level on the night.

But they were unable to find another as Boca Juniors inflicted revenge for their defeat in last year’s final.

They will now face Newell’s Old Boys in the quarter-finals, after they won their round-of-16 matchup with fellow Argentines Velez Sarsfield on the away-goals rule.

Sarsfield won the first leg 1-0 away from home, but goals from Milton Casco amd Ignacio Scocco gave Newell’s Old Boys a 2-0 lead before Facundo Ferreyra’s 83rd-minute strike set up a frantic finish.

The Old Boys held on, however, and moved through to the quarters for another all-Argentine showdown with Boca.