Newell's beat Mineiro in Copa Libertadores semi-finals

Rosario, July 4 (IANS)

Maxi Rodriguez and Nacho Scocco scored second half goals to give Newell’s Old Boys a 2-0 victory over Atletico Mineiro in their Copa Libertadores football semifinal first leg.

Rodriguez opened the scoring at the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa by heading in Milton Casco’s cross on the hour before Scocco doubled the hosts’ lead with a curling 30-metre free-kick 10 minutes from time here Wednesday, reports Xinhua.

The return match will be played at Atletico’s Arena Independencia in the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte next Wednesday.

After the match, Rodriguez said his team still had work to do to make the final of South America’s premier club competition.

“The objective was to win and take advantage of playing at home,” the former Liverpool winger said. “Atletico are a tough team and they will be difficult to beat in Brazil. But this result is very important.”