SAO PAULO — Argentinian soccer giants River Plate and Boca Juniors are out of this season’s Copa Libertadores despite being favorites in their round-of-16 matches. Their exits hand the favored status to Brazilian teams, which have dominated the tournament in recent years and which again look strong to lift the title.
Only Brazilian and Argentinian teams will play the quarterfinals of the tournament, with two Brazilian and one Argentinian side already into the semifinals.
River was knocked out on Wednesday at the Monumental de Nunez Stadium after a goalless draw with local rival Velez Sarsfield, the winners of last week’s first leg 1-0. New Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez played his last match for the hosts, who protested a late goal annulled after video review.
Velez will take on another Argentinian team, Talleres, which won its tie against countrymen Colón 3-1 on aggregate. Earlier on Wednesday, Talleres beat its rival away 2-0, with goals by Federico Girotti in the 47th minute and Angelo Martino in added time.
Boca was eliminated on Tuesday by Brazil’s Corinthians at La Bombonera Stadium after two goalless encounters and a 6-5 defeat on penalties. Striker Dario Benedetto wasted two penalty shots for the hosts; one hit the post in the first half and the second, which could have been the shootout winner, was off goal and high.
Corinthians played both matches of the tie without most of its starting players, including former Chelsea winger Willian and former Shahktar Donetsk’s Maycon. Boca’s elimination against a team that had been crushed by injuries cost the job of coach Sebastián Battaglia.
Corinthians will play local rivals Flamengo in the quarterfinals.
Flamengo beat Colombia’s Tolima 7-1 at the Maracanã Stadium on Wednesday after winning away 1-0 last week. Striker Pedro netted four goals.
Flamengo could have Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal for its quarterfinal. The 35-year-old Vidal, who has just left Inter Milan, was at the Maracanã Stadium to watch Flamengo’s win and said a contract agreement with the Rio de Janeiro club was close.
Defending champions Palmeiras cruised past Paraguay’s Cerro Porteño 5-0 without much effort after a 3-0 win away. Palmeiras will face defending Brazilian champion Atlético Mineiro, in a repeat of last season’s semifinal. Mineiro beat Ecuador’s Emelec 1-0 on Tuesday.
The only remaining match of the round of 16 will be played on Thursday, when Argentina’s Estudiantes de La Plata face Brazilian underdogs Fortaleza after their 1-1 draw last week.
The winner of the match will face Brazil’s Athletico, which knocked Paraguay’s Libertad out in the last minute on Tuesday after a 1-1 draw in Asuncion. The Brazilians, whose coach is World Cup winner Luiz Felipe Scolari, had won the first leg at home 2-1.
LONDON (AP) — The British government apologized Wednesday to the families of 97 Liverpool soccer fans who died after a stadium crush 34 years ago, as it introduced a charter it said will sharply diminish the chances that others will endure the kinds of injustices they suffered.
FALMOUTH, MA – The police in Falmouth have identified the victim in an accident involving a car plunging into the ocean on February 20, NBC10 Boston reported.
BCHARRE, Lebanon (AP) — Majestic cedar trees towered over dozens of Lebanese Christians gathered outside a small mid-19th century chapel hidden in a mountain forest to celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration, the miracle where Jesus Christ, on a mountaintop, shined with light before his disciples.
ATHENS – On the occasion of the centenary of the birth of Maria Callas, widely considered the greatest diva in the history of opera, the Hellenic Institute of Cultural Diplomacy-U.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two months after his historic ouster as House speaker, Republican Rep.
LONDON (AP) — The British government apologized Wednesday to the families of 97 Liverpool soccer fans who died after a stadium crush 34 years ago, as it introduced a charter it said will sharply diminish the chances that others will endure the kinds of injustices they suffered.
CAIRO (AP) — A cargo ship broke down in Egypt's Suez Canal on Wednesday and crashed into a bridge over the crucial waterway, authorities said, adding that the incident did not disrupt traffic through the canal.
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