Two of the most lethal attacks in South America have been held silent through the opening legs of the Copa Libertadores semifinals.
Boca Juniors shut out Universidad de Chile 2-0 on Thursday night, following Corinthians' 1-0 victory over Santos Wednesday night to take the early leads with an eye on reaching the finals.
Corinthians' victory came at the home of the defending champions, making the shutout all the more impressive. Goalkeeper Cassio Ramos came up big on multiple occasions to deny Santos from getting on the board, while Emerson's 28th minute golazo accounted for all the scoring. Emerson was sent off later in the match for a tackle on Neymar, though, and he will be forced to sit out next Wednesday's return leg.
Boca Juniors held serve at La Bombonera in Argentina — with Diego Maradona in attendance — getting goals from Santiago Silva and Juan Sanchez Mino to put Universidad in a hole as the series shifts back to Chile next Thursday. Universidad has turned over deficits at home in this tournament before, including posting six goals on Deportivo Quito in the Round of 16 to battle back from a 4-1 first-leg loss, so the high-powered Chilean side is not out of it yet. Boca, though, has been a team on a mission and has not lost in its last nine Libertadores matches.
What do you think of the first-leg results? Which teams do you see ultimately advancing to the final?
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