Cruzeiro gain upper hand with draw in Argentina

Brazil's Cruzeiro put themselves in a strong position to claim a third Libertadores Cup title when they ground out a scoreless draw at Estudiantes in a scrappy first leg of the final in La Plata yesterday.

Brazil national team goalkeeper Fabio shone for the visitors with five brilliant saves, including two from Estudiantes danger man Juan Sebastian Veron in the first half, before Cruzeiro almost snatched a late winner.

Despite the disappointing outcome, the Argentine side did manage to complete all their home games without conceding a goal and will still fancy their chances of causing an upset in the second leg in Belo Horizonte next Wednesday.

It was a tactical victory for the Brazilians who, packing their midfield, cut the ball supply to Estudiantes's forwards and reduced the Argentine side to counter-attacks and set pieces to try and force a breakthrough.

Niggling fouls on both sides took the flow out of the game, with Cruzeiro penalised 28 times and Estudiantes 23. The home side also failed to take advantage of 10 corners.

Man of the match Fabio, Cruzeiro's captain, said: "It's a good result, the team played well, it was very difficult. We even had chances to score.

"My hardest save was in the first half face to face (with Perez)."

Cruzeiro pushed Estudiantes back into their own half in the second 45 minutes and created two gilt-edged chances late on, both from left crosses, but missed them.

In the 80th minute, Estudiantes keeper Mariano Andujar dived to cut out a low cross only for the ball to fall to Kleber who shot wide of the post.

Three minutes later, a higher cross went over the defence and was headed back into the middle where Wellington blasted it over with the goal at his mercy.