Champs Estudiantes claim vital win

Champs Estudiantes claim vital win
(PA) Wednesday 24 March 2010
Print
Email my friend
Share

Reigning Copa Libertadores champions Estudiantes claimed a crucial 2-0 win over Bolivia's Bolivar to stay in contention in Group 3.

Goals by Jose Ernesto Sosa and Mauro Boselli helped the Argentinian side to a hard-fought victory after Bolivar keeper Carlos Arias kept his side in the game in the first half. Sosa finished a move with Juan Sebastian Veron five minutes into the second half to open the scoring and Mauro Boselli doubled the lead 13 minutes from time after Marcelo Carrusca crossed from the left.

Estudiantes climbed to second with seven points from four games, two below leaders Alianza Lima and one above their next opponents, Juan Aurich. The eight group leaders and the best six runners-up progress to the last 16.

"It was difficult, but we had at least 12 or 14 opportunities to score. We played a great game and got a deserved win," Veron told Fox Sports. "Before the goals, we were doing the right things and this win is useful to stay alive. Now we are second. It's up to us."

Meanwhile in Paraguay, Libertad and Peruvian giants Universitario played out a 1-1 draw. A long-distance strike from Victor Hugo Ayala put Libertad ahead in the 55th minute, but Luis Alberto Ramirez - who played for Libertad last year - equalised with only four minutes remaining.

The two are level on eight points at the top of Group 4, five above Argentinian side Lanus. Ayala said: "We thought we were going to win, we wanted to win in order to lead ahead of the next round, but they levelled the game."