2/24/2010

Cruzeiro wins first game in Libertadores Cup

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Pedro Ken (C) of Brazilian club Cruzeiro celebrates with teammates Kleber (L) and Wellington Paulista after scoring their third goal against Chilean club Colo Colo during their Copa Libertadores soccer match in Belo Horizonte, February 24, 2010.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 24 -- Cruzeiro won their first match of the Libertadores Cup on Wednesday by beating Chilean team of Colo-Colo 4-1.

Cruzeiro scored the first goal in the 7th minute as Henrique passed the ball off to Thiago Ribeiro who then squared up to the goal and blasted the ball on a sharp angle that surprised a helpless Colo-Colo goalie.

Colo-Colo responded in the 36th minute when striker Miralles stuck with a loose ball, recuperating possession and crossing the ball to a cutting Paredes who tapped in the equalizer.

Cruzeiro reclaimed the lead in the 62nd minute. After being awarded a penalty kick when Magalhaes tackled Leonardo Silva in front of the net, Kleber stepped in to take the kick. The captain nailed the ball towards the left-center of the net and the Colo-Colo goalie was able to deflect the ball with his leg, but could not prevent the ball from entering the goal.

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Kleber of Brazilian club Cruzeiro celebrates with fans his second goal against Chilean club Colo Colo during their Copa Libertadores soccer match in Belo Horizonte, February 24, 2010.

The home team scored again in the 67th minute. Off a stopped ball just outside of the penalty box, the crossed ball bounced loosely on the ground before Pedro Ken quickly turned and blasted the ball while sliding through the defense and into the back of the Colo-Colo net.

The team scored their fourth goal of the night off of a penalty kick. Attempting to run down a crossed ball, Kleber was pushed from behind in front of the goal and was awarded a penalty kick. The athlete took the kick and sent it cleanly into the left side of the goal.

With their win, Cruzeiro earned their first points of the tournament. They currently stand in second place in Group 7. Their win also marked the team's ninth-consecutive undefeated streak at home victory against Colo-Colo. While at home against the Chileans, Cruzeiro has won seven games and tied twice, scoring 23 goals while suffering only five.

Both teams will return to face each other on April 15 in Santiago, Chile. The game will be the last in the first round of group play of the Libertadores Cup.

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Ezequiel Miralles (top) of Chile's Colo Colo loses the ball to Leo Silva of Brazil's Cruzeiro during their Copa Libertadores soccer match in Belo Horizonte, February 24, 2010.

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Esteban Paredes (R) of Chile's Colo Colo clears the ball away from Thiago Heleno of Brazil's Cruzeiro during their Copa Libertadores soccer match in Belo Horizonte, February 24, 2010.

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Kleber of Brazilian club Cruzeiro celebrates with teammate Diego Renan (L) after scoring his second goal against Chilean club Colo Colo during their Copa Libertadores soccer match in Belo Horizonte, February 24, 2010.
(Xinhua)

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