Substitute striker Jose Maria Ortigoza scored a 75th-minute goal for Palmeiras who beat fellow Brazilian side Sport 1-0 as the third round of the Copa Libertadores got under way on Tuesday.
After beating Sport in Sao Paulo for the first time in six years, the 1999 Copa Libertadores champions Palmeiras can afford a draw in the second leg next week in the northeastern city of Recife to advance to the quarter-finals of the Latin American championship.
Ortigoza, who came on to replace midfielder Marquinhos in the 64th minute, headed in a cross by midfielder Cleiton Xavier.
PHOTO: AP
“It was a very important goal,” Ortigoza said. “It helped us win at home and earn an important advantage.”
Sport, playing in the round of 16 for the first time, went a man down just before the goal when midfielder Hamilton was sent off after he received his second yellow card. Palmeiras scored on the ensuing free-kick.
In front of their own fans, Palmeiras dominated most of the match at the Palestra Italia Stadium.
PHOTO: AP
Striker Keirrison had the team’s first chance in the fifth minute, hitting the crossbar from close range after a cross into the penalty area.
One of Sport’s few opportunities came in the 26th minute from a long-range shot by striker Wilson that made Palmeiras’ World Cup goalkeeper Marcos produce a good save.
Midfielder Marquinhos nearly got on the scoreboard for Palmeiras in the 53rd minute, but his shot from inside the area was cleared just in front of the goalmouth. Midfielder Diego Souza’s close range effort in the 62nd minute also just missed.
Playing a man up, Palmeiras had a few other chances after the goal, but failed to capitalize. Souza came closest when he hit the post with a header in the 90th minute.
It was the third match between the Brazilian rivals in this year’s Copa Libertadores. Palmeiras beat Sport 2-0 in Recife in their first match in Group 1, then Sport earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw in Sao Paulo despite playing the entire second half with 10 men. Sport advanced in first place and Palmeiras in second.
Palmeiras got the win despite playing without suspended defender Marcao, who was red-carded in the match against Colo Colo. Sport coach Nelsinho Baptista had all his players available.
Former Spartak Moscow midfielder Mozart, added to Palmeiras’ roster to replace injured World Cup defender Edmilson, came on in the second half to make his debut for the club.
Two Copa Libertadores matches involving Mexican teams have been delayed because of swine flu fears. The matches between San Luis and Nacional of Uruguay and Chivas and Sao Paulo of Brazil have not yet been rescheduled.
The match between Defensor Sporting of Uruguay and Boca Juniors of Argentina was delayed a week because the stadium in Montevideo was already booked for another event.
SIBLING RIVALRY: Marc Marquez was locked in a duel with his little brother, falling behind at one point before recovering for his first season-opening victory since 2014 Six-time world champion Marc Marquez yesterday won the MotoGP season-opening Thailand Grand Prix to complete a dominant debut weekend at his new Ducati Lenovo Team, having also romped to Saturday’s sprint. The Spanish great took the 26-lap grand prix by 1.732 seconds for his 63rd MotoGP victory from younger brother Alex Marquez, who is still seeking a first checkered flag, with Francesco Bagnaia third to complete an all-Ducati podium. It completed a perfect weekend for Marc Marquez, who took pole position, the sprint victory and the grand prix win for a maximum 37 points to open the 22-leg 2025 campaign. He led from
AC Milan’s slender hopes of reaching next season’s UEFA Champions League took another hit on Thursday with a 2-1 defeat at Bologna which left them eight points from Serie A’s top four. Sergio Conceicao’s team sit eighth, some way behind fourth-placed Juventus after losing an entertaining contest at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, a match which was rescheduled from October last year due to torrential rain and flooding. Swathes of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy, much of which is fertile agricultural land, had been left under water following a massive autumn downpour. Dan Ndoye prodded home the decisive goal in the 82nd minute
Former Australian motorcycle gang member-turned-golfer Ryan Peake, who served a lengthy jail term for assault, yesterday produced a “life-changing” maiden win to qualify for The Open Championship. Peake held his nerve for a one-stroke victory at the New Zealand Open, earning him a berth at the major in Portrush, Northern Ireland, in July, pending clearance to travel as a convicted criminal. The 31-year-old from Perth celebrated animatedly and was showered with champagne by friends on the 18th green of the Millbrook Resort course near Queenstown after a redemption story rarely seen in the refined sport of golf. Peake held back tears as he
MILWAUKEE PREVAIL: Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 28 points as the Bucks withstood Nikola Jokic’s 27th triple-double of the season to beat the Nuggets Golden State star Stephen Curry on Thursday drilled 12 three-pointers in a scintillating 56-point display that carried the Warriors to a 121-115 victory over the Orlando Magic. Curry’s explosive performance helped the Warriors dig themselves out of a 17-point hole, with the point guard signaling the start of the fightback with a three-pointer from beyond the half-court line to end the first half that pulled the Warriors within 66-52 at the break. In the third quarter, he single-handedly outscored the Magic with 22 points to Orlando’s 21. The four-time NBA champion finished two three-pointers shy of former teammate Klay Thompson’s record for most
RSS