Thiago Ribeiro’s first-half hat-trick guided Brazil’s Cruzeiro to a 3-1 first-leg win over Nacional of Uruguay in the Copa Libertadores round-of-16 on Thursday.
In other first-leg matches, Diego Rivarola’s late goal gave Universidad de Chile a 1-0 win at Peru’s Alianza Lima, while 2004 champions Once Caldas of Colombia drew 0-0 with Libertad of Paraguay.
Cruzeiro, last year’s losing finalists, took the lead in the seventh minute against Nacional when Ribeiro got behind the defense and slotted through the legs of goalkeeper Rodrigo Munoz.
Ribeiro earned his second with a header in the 22nd minute and again found space behind the defense to complete his triple with a low strike from the edge of the box in the 42nd minute.
Mario Regueiro pulled a goal back for Nacional five minutes after halftime, but the Uruguayans face a difficult task overcoming the deficit in the return leg on Wednesday.
Elsewhere, Universidad de Chile have a one-goal cushion ahead of their home leg after Rivarola capitalized on a mixup in the Alianza defense to race through and shoot high past goalkeeper George Forsyth in the 86th minute.
The return leg will be played in Santiago on Thursday.
The day’s final match saw surprise 2004 champions Once Caldas held to a goalless draw at home.
Roberto Gamarra hit the post for Libertad with a long-range drive following a free-kick in the 52nd minute and Victor Caceres’ deflected shot pounded the crossbar for Once Caldas in the 65th minute.
The return leg in Asuncion will also be played on Thursday.
The other first-leg results this week were San Luis 0, Estudiantes La Plata 1; Guadalajara 3, Velez Sarsfield 0; Universitario 0, Sao Paulo 0; Flamengo 1, Corinthians 0; and Banfield 3, Internacional 1.
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