Copa Libertadores Review: Boca Juniors advance, Flamengo complete comeback

Boca Juniors booked their spot in the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals, while Flamengo completed a comeback against Emelec to progress on Wednesday.

Runners-up last year, Boca recorded a 2-0 victory over Athletico Paranaense at La Bombonera to secure a 3-0 aggregate win.

Ramon Abila scored the opening goal of the second leg with a powerful finish in the 57th minute.

The hosts sealed their win deep into additional time through Eduardo Salvio as they moved into the last eight, where they will face Ecuadorian outfit LDU Quito.

¡Así se grita un gol de #Libertadores! Wanchope Ábila abrió el marcador y explotó la Bombonera pic.twitter.com/k4b6OfPQlQ

— CONMEBOL Libertadores (@Libertadores) August 1, 2019

Flamengo needed penalties to overcome Emelec, winning 2-0 in Rio de Janeiro before a 4-2 shoot-out success.

Gabriel Barbosa, on loan from Inter, struck twice in the opening 19 minutes – including from the penalty spot – to bring the tie level at 2-2 on aggregate.

¡Otra vez Gabigol! Centro atrás y genial definición de zurda del nueve de @Flamengo: así igualó la serie ante @CSEmelec que terminó ganando por penales para meterse en los cuartos de final de la #Libertadores pic.twitter.com/SoSoFhezCb

— CONMEBOL Libertadores (@Libertadores) August 1, 2019

Diego Alves, who developed a reputation for saving penalties during his time with Valencia, saved from Dixon Arroyo in the shoot-out before Nicolas Queiroz hit the crossbar, sending Flamengo through.

Next up for Flamengo are Internacional, who claimed a 2-0 win at home to Nacional to wrap up a 3-0 aggregate success.

Cerro Porteno set up a quarter-final meeting with defending champions River Plate thanks to a come-from-behind 2-1 win over San Lorenzo in Asuncion, after their first leg finished 0-0.