Second half goals from Maxi Rodriguez and Ignacio Scocco gave Newell’s Old Boys a 2-0 victory over Atletico Miniero in Rosario in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores Semi Final.  Read the full match report and watch the goals here….

Newell’s Old Boys took a step towards their third ever Copa Libertadores Final with a 2-0 victory over Atletico Miniero in Rosario last night. A closely fought game was decided by two decisive moments from the ever-dangerous Maxi Rodriguez and the supremely talented, Ignacio Scocco. Maxi’s 61^st minute header and Scocco’s curling free kick in the 80^th minute give Newell’s a glorious opportunity ahead of the return leg in Brasil but they will be wary given the attacking prowess of this Miniero side.

Going into this game Newell’s, in the aftermath of being crowned Torneo Final winners, had lost 3 games in a row all by a goal to nil whereas Miniero had not played at all for over 2 weeks given Brasil’s hosting of the Confederations cup but both sides fielded very familiar first elevens. Gerardo Martino opted for a side that has served him well this year and Miniero welcomed back Bernard and Jo from Brasil duty to join the likes of Ronaldinho, Diego Tardelli and Gilberto Silva.

The opening 45 minutes was a pretty even and tense affair but the home side perhaps created the better opportunities only to be thwarted by Miniero stopper, Victor. However, the half’s best opening fell to the much-hyped, young talent Bernard. Ronaldinho split the Newell’s defence with a through ball and Bernard’s decision to try and round Newell’s goalkeeper, Nahuel Guzman proved costly as Guzman got down well to pluck the ball off the feet of the prodigious Brasilian.

The second half belonged to Newell’s and although they had to ride their luck to some extent were good value for a two goal lead. Early in the half a Jo knockdown fell to Ronaldinho but he completely fluffed his volleyed effort and sent it high into the stands. From then on it was Newell’s and just after the hour mark they got their breakthrough. A corner from the right was never really cleared by the Brasilian defence and as it was floated back in again, Maxi Rodriguez eluded any marker to firmly plant his header back across goal. Another crucial goal from the ex-Atletico Madrid and Liverpool man, who has proved to be a wonderful signing by Martino.

Shortly after, Maxi almost made it two when his shot rebounded off the post and his follow up effort was cleared from the goal-line. Then Miniero thought they had scored the all important away goal as Jo followed up a saved effort only to see his goal chalked out for offside. The decision was marginal but with the help of a replay looked correct by inches. As the game was heading for a nervy final 10 minutes, Newell’s won a freekick 25 yards from goal and top goal scorer Nacho Scocco stepped up and curled his effort round the wall into the bottom corner. From a man who has missed his last 3 penalties, most importantly his spotkick in the Superfinal last weekend, it was a wonderful moment of redemption. Scocco now has 6 goals in this year’s competition to join Tardelli and Jo at the top of the charts and further enhance his reputation ahead of a probable European move in the coming weeks.

There is still plenty of work to be done when the two sides meet again in Brasil and Newell’s will be without Lucas Bernardi and Pablo Perez, both suspended after picking up yellow cards, but the dream of Libertadores glory is now tangible. Beaten finalist in 1988 and 1992, when manager Gerardo Martino was a player, Newell’s now dream to go one better.