By DAN KARELL
Argentine club San Lorenzo have booked a place in the Copa Libertadores final for the first time in history.
Visiting Bolivian side Bolivar, San Lorenzo fell, 1-0, on the evening but advanced to the final due to a 5-1 aggregate win. The match was played in the Estadio Hernando Silas, 3,600 feet above sea level in the mountains of La Paz, but Bolivar were unable to take enough advantage of the altitude.
The lone goal of the match came in the second minute of stoppage time though Bolivar substitute Gerardo Yacerotti. Fellow substitute Oscar Rodas provided the assist.
San Lorenzo will face Club Nacional of Paraguay in the final. Nacional, also a first-time finalist, will host the first leg on Aug. 6. The second leg is scheduled for Aug. 13 in San Lorenzo.
Here are some more stories to start off your Thursday:
EVERTON SIGN LUKAKU TO RECORD DEAL
Everton are forging into a new era under Roberto Martinez, with owner Bill Kenwright no longer afraid to reach deep into his pockets for new signings.
The English Premier League club announced on Wednesday evening that it has signed Belgian international forward Romelu Lukaku for a club record 28 million pound ($47.3 million) transfer fee. Lukaku signed a five-year contract with the Toffees, where he spent last season on loan from Chelsea.
“I am really excited about rejoining Everton,” Lukaku said in a statement. “I had a fantastic experience last season and a great relationship with the manager, the chairman, the staff, the players and the fans. I can’t wait to get started again and I’m looking forward to a successful season.”
The 21-year-old forward scored 15 goals last season in 31 EPL matches, more goals than any single Chelsea forward scored at his former parent club. For Chelsea, the sale was a good return on their investment, having signed Lukaku for a reported 10 million pounds in August 2011 from Anderlecht.
QUICK KICKS
UEFA will investigate crowd trouble between fans of Dnipro and FC Copenhagen during their UEFA Champions League qualifying match on Wednesday evening. (REPORT)
FIFA vice president and Argentine FA president Julio Grondona passed away at the age of 82. (REPORT)
Hamburg are set to sign Swiss international Valon Behrami from Napoli for around 5 million euros ($6.7 million). (REPORT)
Cesc Fabregas scored his first goal in Chelsea blue as the London club beat Vitesse Arnhem, 3-1, in a preseason friendly. (REPORT)
The English Premier League has approved the use of vanishing spray for the upcoming season. (REPORT)
Frenchman Herve Renard has been appointed the head coach of the Ivory Coast national team ahead of the 2015 African Cup of Nations. (REPORT)
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What do you think of these reports? Do you see San Lorenzo defeating Nacional in the final? How big of a signing is Lukaku for Everton?
Share your thoughts below.