This is how all the first leg matches of the Copa Sudamericana quarter-finals have been

On foreign soil and with the same 0-2 Cruzeirothis Thursday, and Corinthianslast Tuesday, took a firm step towards the semi-finals of the South American Cupwith the added advantage that they must look for the last stamp in their respective areas next week.

Athletico Paranaense also contributed to the triumphs of the Brazilian clubs with their home victory this Thursday against Racing Argentine, while on Wednesday the Colombian Independent Medellin took a point from the payments of the Lanus in a series that is for everyone.

0-2. An Argentine and a Brazilian boost Cruzeiro

Forwards Kaio Jorge, a 22-year-old Brazilian, and Lautaro Díaz, a 26-year-old Argentine, on Thursday pushed Cruzeiro de Belo Horizonte to take a giant step towards the semi-finals of the Copa Sudamericana, scoring the goals that gave the Raposa a 0-2 away victory over Paraguay’s Libertad.

The Brazilian Black Beast, which is in seventh place in the Brazilian Championship standings, arrived at the first match of the quarterfinals with the confidence that came from having eliminated Boca Juniors in the round of 16 of the tournament via penalty kicks.

And it was Kaio and Lautaro who, in the 19th and 45+3 minutes respectively, took advantage of their team’s confidence and superiority over the Paraguayans, who are sixth in their league, and established an advantage that gives them a firm step towards reaching the semi-finals in the next match in which they will close as home team.

The teams will meet again on September 26 in the return match scheduled for the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte.

1-0. Paranaense takes advantage against Racing, but not by much

A shot from youngster João Cruz in the 38th minute brought Racing’s dominance to nothing and gave Athletico Paranaense the lead in the tie.

The Argentine team had plenty of momentum in the first half and lost steam in the second. Chilean goalkeeper Gabriel Arias kept his team alive in the final minutes of the match ahead of the return match, which will be next Thursday 26th at El Cilindro.

Racing came out as if they were playing at home under the guidance of Colombian Juan Fernando Quintero, but Paranaense’s awakening was preceded by a setback due to the injury of Bruno Zapelli, who was replaced by João Cruz, the 18-year-old midfielder who dressed as a hero with his goal at the Ligga Arena stadium in Curitiba.

0-0. Lanús can’t do it, Medellín holds on

Independiente Medellín showed on Wednesday that it knows how to suffer.

Lanús tried everything at their stadium, the Néstor Díaz Pérez, but the anguish they caused in the first half faded in the second due to a lack of fuel from their forwards, or because of the interventions of goalkeeper Eder Chaux.

Medellin’s red team was saved from conceding goals on two occasions thanks to the VAR check by Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio, which forced him to change his previous decisions.

The return match will be played on September 25 at the Atanasio Girardot stadium in Medellín.

0-2. The resurrection of Ramon

Argentine coach Ramón ‘el Pelado’ Díaz needed to make a resounding statement to shake up his Corinthians, the most popular club in Brazil after Flamengo, and the ideal victim turned out to be Fortaleza, third-placed in the ‘Brasileirao’.

Corinthians, battling relegation, sits third from bottom in the 20-club table but played with the confidence of a top-flight team at the Estadio Castelao on Tuesday.