Boca Juniors – Sports Africa

Santos beat Boca Juniors to reach Copa Libertadores final

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SANTOS, Brazil, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) — Santos set up an all-Brazilian Copa Libertadores final against Palmeiras by routing Argentine giants Boca Juniors 3-0 in the second leg of their semifinal here on Wednesday.

The result at Estadio Vila Belmiro in Brazil followed a goalless draw in the first leg at Boca’s La Bombonera last week. Diego Pituca put Santos ahead in the 16th minute with a low first-time finish after Yeferson Soteldo’s long-range effort rebounded into his path off Boca defender Lisandro Lopez.

Soteldo doubled the lead just after halftime by cutting in from the left flank and curling an unstoppable shot into the top left corner.

Former Changchun Yatai striker Marinho set up Lucas Braga for Santos’ third goal, piercing Boca’s defence with a mazy run before pulling back an inviting cross from the right byline.

Boca’s night went from bad to worse when Colombian midfielder Frank Fabra was shown a straight red card for stomping on Marinho in the 56th minute.

Santos are vying for their fourth Libertadores crown while Palmeiras will bid to win South America’s premier club trophy for a second time when the teams meet at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium on January 30.

Palmeiras earned a place in the tournament decider by completing a 3-2 aggregate win over River Plate on Tuesday.

Santos hold Boca Juniors, eye final spot in Copa Libertadores

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BUENOS AIRES, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) — Brazil’s Santos held Argentine giants Boca Juniors to a goalless draw in the first leg of their Copa Libertadores semifinal here on Wednesday.

In a game of few clear scoring opportunities, Santos enjoyed 55 percent of possession at La Bombonera and completed 465 passes to Boca’s 392.

Both teams had only two shots on target. The return leg will be played at the Vila Belmiro stadium in Brazil next Wednesday.

The winning team will face either River Plate or Palmeiras in the final at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium on January 30.

Palmeiras prevailed 3-0 in the first leg of their semifinal in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.

The Copa Libertadores is South America’s most prestigious club competition, with the winners earning a berth in the FIFA Club World Cup.

Copa Libertadores final to be played without fans

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) — The Copa Libertadores final at Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Maracana stadium will be played behind closed doors because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) said on Tuesday.

The decision follows discussions involving representatives of CONMEBOL, the Brazilian Football Confederation and local health authorities.

“The current situation of the Covid-19 pandemic, still in expansion in South America, does not allow the organization of an event of such magnitude and importance with the presence of the public, even in a reduced attendance,” the Asuncion-based entity said in a statement.

Scheduled for January 30, the Copa Libertadores final is considered the most important match in South American club football.

Argentina’s River Plate and Brazil’s Palmeiras have been drawn to face each other in one semifinal while Santos and Boca Juniors will meet in the other.

The final of the second-tier Copa Sudamericana, slated for January 23 at the Mario Alberto Kempes stadium in the Argentine city of Cordoba, will also be played without fans, CONMEBOL said.

Boca Juniors beat Racing to earn Copa Libertadores semifinal spot

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BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) — Colombian forward Sebastian Villa scored one goal and set up another as Boca Juniors advanced to the Copa Libertadores semifinals with a 2-0 win over Argentine rivals Racing Club on Wednesday.

Eduardo Salvio drew the hosts level on aggregate with a bullet header after Villa nodded a Franco Soldano cross into the former Atletico Madrid winger’s path.

Villa then converted from the penalty spot after Salvio was brought down by a crude Lisandro Lopez challenge.

The result at La Bombonera means Boca will meet Brazil’s Santos in the semifinals next month.

The Buenos Aires giants are aiming to win South America’s top club competition for a seventh time while Santos are vying for their fourth title.

Argentina’s River Plate will meet Brazilian side Palmeiras in the other semifinal.

Tevez dedicates goal to Maradona as Boca Juniors eye Libertadores last 8

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PORTO ALEGRE, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) — Carlos Tevez scored a sublime second-half goal as Argentine giants Boca Juniors won 1-0 away to Brazil’s Internacional in the first leg of their Copa Libertadores last 16 clash on Wednesday.

The former Argentina international forward took a touch to control an Eduardo Salvio cross from the right before turning swiftly and stabbing home a left-footed shot from eight yards.

The 36-year-old celebrated by removing his shirt to reveal an old Boca Juniors jersey worn by Argentine legend Diego Maradona, who died last week of a heart attack.

“It was a small tribute to Diego with a shirt that he gave me from ’81,” Tevez told reporters after the match.

“I’m very happy to have given him that happiness that surely he’ll have seen from above.

“It was tough. But we had to battle on. It was a difficult week in which we also had to play in the [Argentine] league. It’s not a good time for Argentinian society. We’ve lost a great idol and it wasn’t easy to play but we did very well.”

The result means Boca only need a draw in next week’s return leg at La Bombonera to progress to the last eight of South America’s top club competition.

“This tie hasn’t finished. We know that we’ve taken a big step but there’s still a long way to go,” Tevez added.

Boca Juniors move closer to Copa Libertadores knockout berth

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MEDELLIN, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) — Six-time Copa Libertadores champions Boca Juniors took a major step toward securing a place in the competition’s knockout phase with a 1-0 win at Independiente Medellin on Thursday.

It took the Argentinian giants until the 87th minute to break the deadlock at the Atanasio Girardot stadium as former Atletico Madrid winger Eduardo Salvio struck his fifth goal of the campaign.

The result left Boca with 10 points from four matches in Group H, three points clear of second-placed Caracas FC.

Independiente Medellin remained at the foot of the group with four straight defeats.

Brazil’s Santos also moved within sight of a berth in the next round with a 2-1 win over 10-man Delfin in the Ecuadorian port city of Manta.

Former Changchun Yatai forward Marinho continued his impressive form with an early strike before Juan Diego Rojas equalized in the 74th minute.

Jean Mota scored the winner eight minutes from time as Santos clinched their third win from four matches.

In Friday’s only other fixture, Bolivia’s Jorge Wilstermann secured a 3-0 home win over Uruguayan side Penarol.

Colombia midfielder Cardona rejoins Boca Juniors

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BUENOS AIRES, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) — Colombia international midfielder Edwin Cardona has returned to Boca Juniors after a 20-month spell in Mexico.

Liga MX side Tijuana agreed to release the 27-year-old on an 18-month loan, after which Boca will have an option to make the move permanent.

“Welcome, Edwin Cardona. May this new cycle bring great success,” Boca said in a Twitter post on Friday.

Cardona joined Tijuana in January after an impressive spell with their Mexican rivals Pachuca in 2019. But he was restricted to just seven matches with Los Xolos because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The playmaker, who represented Boca from 2017 to 2019, becomes the fifth Colombian in the Buenos Aires outfit’s squad, joining Frank Fabra, Jorman Campuzano, Sebastian Perez and Sebastian Villa.

Argentinian football has been suspended since mid-March because of the Covid-19 pandemic. First division clubs were authorized to restart training on August 10 but officials have yet to confirm when competitions will resume.

Three Boca Juniors players test positive for coronavirus

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BUENOS AIRES, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) — Three Boca Juniors players have been ordered to self-isolate after testing positive for the novel coronavirus, the Argentinian club said on Wednesday.

The players – midfielder Ivan Marcone, forward Walter Bou and goalkeeper Agustin Lastra – are asymptomatic and will be retested within 72 hours to determine whether they can resume training.

In a statement published on social media, Boca added that 217 people within the club had been tested, with 11 returning positive results.

The Argentinian Football Association suspended all of its competitions on March 17 and cancelled the rest of the 2019-20 season in April. First division teams were allowed to return to training on August 10 but officials have not said when the new season will begin.

Colombia midfielder Cardona poised for Boca Juniors return

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BUENOS AIRES, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) — Colombia international midfielder Edwin Cardona is close to rejoining his former club Boca Juniors, according to media reports in Argentina on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old, who is tied to Mexico’s Tijuana until December, has reached a verbal agreement for an 18-month contract with the Buenos Aires giants, the Ole news outlet said on Tuesday.

The deal is expected to be confirmed in the coming days, it added. Cardona made 46 appearances for the Boca Juniors from 2017 to 2019, scoring 11 goals and providing five assists.

He would be the fifth Colombian in Boca’s squad, joining Frank Fabra, Jorman Campuzano, Sebastian Perez and Sebastian Villa.

Argentinian football has been suspended since mid-March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. First division clubs were authorized to restart training last week but no date has yet been set for the resumption of competitions.

Tevez extends Boca Juniors contract

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BUENOS AIRES, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) — Veteran forward Carlos Tevez has agreed to a new contract with Argentinian giants Boca Juniors, his agent and brother said on Saturday.

“Carlos Tevez has signed a new contract with Boca. It’s a happy ending,” Diego Tevez said in a Twitter post that included a photo of the 36-year-old signing paperwork.

Local media said Tevez’s revised deal would run until June 2021, and included the option of a six-month extension.

Tevez, who had been tied to Boca until the end of the year, said in June that he wanted to end his career with Corinthians or West Ham, two of the seven clubs that he has represented professionally.

The others are Manchester United, Manchester City, Juventus and Shanghai Shenhua.

Football in Argentina has been suspended since mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The government has authorized clubs to restart training on August 10, though no date has been set for a return for domestic competitions.

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