Olimpia, Newell's Old Boys qualify

Olimpia, Newell's Old Boys qualify

Published May. 30, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

Paraguayan giants Olimpia made it into the Copa Libertadores semi-finals after eliminating Brazilian champions Fluminense 2-1.

After a 0-0 tie in the first leg in Rio, Fluminense went ahead in the ninth minute when Rhayner took advantage of a mistake by defender Julio Manzur to open the scoring.

The home side refused to panic and levelled in the 35th minute courtesy of a Salgueiro free-kick, before he same player put Olimpia in front four minutes later.

Digao fouled Freddy Bareiro in the box and up stepped Salgueiro to put his side ahead.

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"We are very happy because this is what we expected. We've fought a lot for six months and we deserved to progress," Salgueiro told Fox Sports.

"We met a great team, we defended quite a lot and took the positive result we wanted. Now, the decisive stages start."

Olimpia will face Colombian side Santa Fe, who eliminated Peru's Real Garcilaso on Tuesday night.

In Rosario, Argentinian side Newell's Old Boys saw off six-time Libertadores winners Boca Juniors 10-9 on penalties after both legs finished goalless.

Boca Juniors had the best opportunity to score in the 56th minute, but Nicolas Blandi's header hit the post after a Juan-Roman Riquelme cross.

Twenty seconds later, Boca were reduced to 10 men when defender Clemente Rodriguez was shown red for protesting a referee's decision and although Newell's tried, they found it impossible to beat keeper Agustin Orion.

Finally, after 25 spot kicks, former Liverpool midfielder Maxi Rodriguez netted the winning penalty.

Newell's head coach Gerardo Martino said: "I'm proud of coaching a very good team.

"I guide a group of brave players and that is a key point in this team. Tonight, we had more ball possession but we were not accurate in finishing.

Riquelme, who missed his effort, told reporters: "Penalties are a matter of
which team is more lucky.

"We played against the best Argentinian team according to everybody's thoughts, and we had the most important chances to score so we are not that bad."

Newell's will find out their opponents on Thursday evening, when Brazil's Atletico Mineiro and Tijuana of Mexico play the second leg in Belo Horizonte.

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