Carlos Tevez scored the only goal of the match as Boca Juniors defeated Internacional 1-0 in a rainy night on Wednesday for the first leg of the round of 16 of the Libertadores. The Argentine footballer paid tribute to his idol and late compatriot Diego Maradona after the goal.
With the rain pouring down and the pitch a bit soggy, both teams struggled to move the ball around
and create spaces to operate in the first half. Inter had a chance to take the lead but Patrick saw his effort go over the crossbar.
The visitors grew later on in the game and started to get used to the condition on the pitch. Their best chance of the half came through a counter attack in the 31st minute. Villa received a diagonal cross following a counter but saw his shot saved by the goalkeeper.
Early into the second half, Inter lost an opportunity to open the scoring on two separate occasions. Heitor was open in the goal area but also sent his effort over the crossbar. Not long from then, Rodrigo Lindoso received a cross from Uendel and was unmarked but he could only send his header wide off the post.
Boca Juniors soon took charge and in the 63rd minute, Carlos Tevez put his shot away into the back of Marcelo Lomba’s goal. Carlos Tevez then paid tribute to his footballing idol Diego Maradona who passed away by taking off his no.10 shirt to reveal another shirt used by Maradona for Boca Juniors back in the 80s.
The second leg of the game will hold next Wednesday. But before then, Inter will face Atlético-MG in the Brasilerao while Boca visit Talleres in the Argentine Primera division.
