Belo Horizonte, April 9 (IANS) Brazil’s Cruzeiro moved a step closer to securing a place in the Copa Libertadores football tournament’s knockout phase by defeating Venezuela’s Mineiros de Guayana 3-0.
Forward Giorgian de Arrascaeta opened the scoring in the 13th minute at the Mineirao stadium with a bicycle kick after Mayke’s looping header on Wednesday, reports Xinhua.
Two minutes later Brazil international striker Leandro Damiao controlled a throw-in with his chest before surging into the box and lashing the ball into the top corner.
Henrique made it 3-0 by heading in from a corner kick in the 73rd minute.
The result leaves Cruzeiro top of Group 3, two points ahead of second-placed Universitario de Sucre with two group matches remaining. Mineros de Guayana are last with just one point.
Earlier, Argentina’s Huracan were held to a 1-1 draw by Bolivia’s Universitario de Sucre in Buenos Aires.
The Copa Libertadores is South American football’s premier club football competition.
–Indo-Asian News service
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