Libertadores Update: Juan Roman Riquelme Is Pure Magic

The Argentine star Juan Roman Riquelme has done it again. Last night, in front of a packed Minerao stadium in Brazil, Riquelme and Boca pulled off what few have dared.

Playing for the Libertadores Cup, Argentine side Boca Juniors beat Brazilian side Cruzeiro at Cruzeiro's home stadium 2-1 ending the Brazilian team's campaign.

To put this in perspective Cruzeiro had not lost to another team at home for the Libertadores in some 33 years. Counting last night, Cruzeiro, who are former world club champions and responsible for the origin of football legend Ronaldo, had only lost three times ever at home in the Libertadores.

Boca went about their business calmly and efficiently mirroring their great play-maker Riquelme. Riquelme participated in both goals and just about everything else seemingly without even breaking a good sweat.

Boca Juniors seem to be heading for the double this year much like they did last year booting out Brazil's Gremio also at Gremio's home stadium. In reality Boca has won their last 10 encounters against Brazilian opposition in knockout type games for the Libertadores.

Perhaps the only ones who can stop Boca is Emperor Adriano's Sao Paulo but this is left to be seen.

The burning question is, should Boca qualify once more for Tokyo, will FIFA and Villareal ban Riquelme once more from playing in the final, as was the case against Milan last year?

Will the world be deprived of seeing one of the best, if not indeed the best? Few possess his subtle touch. Not since the likes of Maradona, Romario or Baggio have football fans been able to appreciate such skilful grace highlighting the beautiful side of the sport.

In other matches Flamengo lost at the Maracana to their Mexican opponents America in shocking style 3-0 losing on aggregate 5-4 and also exiting the Libertadores.

Flamengo won the State championship at the weekend and as is usually the case with fans and directors seemed to give more importance to their local tournament than the Libertadores as only a handful of fans even showed up for the America match in contrast to some 88 thousand for the Botafogo derby.

Sao Paulo beat Uruguay's Nacional 2-0 with a neat little Adriano first goal and now go on to meet their Rio rivals Fluminense.