Goalkeeper Ceni scores twice as Sao Paulo beats Tigres 4-0

Goalkeeper Ceni scores twice as Sao Paulo beats Tigres 4-0

Sao Paulo, June. 2 (AP): Goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni, netted a pair of free-kick goals to lead Brazil's Sao Paulo 4-0 over Mexico's Tigres in the first leg of a Copa Libertadores quarterfinal match last night.

Sao Paulo can advance to the semifinals of the Latin American competition even if it loses the second leg on June 15 in Mexico by a difference of three goals.

Ceni, who missed a late penalty kick, has scored four goals in the past three matches.

He put Sao Paulo in front at Morumbi stadium with a shot from nearly 30 meters (yards) in the 30th minute. He curled a right-footed shot over the wall and into the left upper corner of Argentine Tigres goalkeeper Gustavo Campagnuolo.

He added his second in the 58th from about 25 meters (yards), this time hitting the right upper corner past Campagnuolo, who had already allowed a goal to Ceni in 1999 while playing for Argentina's San Lorenzo in the Copa Mercosul.

The goals were Ceni's 49th and 50th career goals,ute with a knee injury, and was likely to be cut from the Brazilian national team that will face Paraguay on Sunday in a World Cup qualifier.

Sao Paulo remains the only unbeaten team in this year's Libertadores. Tigres, which ousted defending champion Once Caldas of Colombia in the previous round, was the only other team entering the quarterfinals without a loss.

The result kept intact Sao Paulo's 18-year unbeaten streak in the Libertadores at Morumbi. In 27 matches since 1987, Sao Paulo has won 24 and tied three.

The Brazilians, seeking their first title since championships in 1992 and '93, reached the quarterfinals by winning Group 3 and then eliminating rival Palmeiras in the round of 16.

The Mexicans are the Group 6 winner and playing in the Libertadores for the first time.

Sao Paulo, a three-time Brazilian champion, was without suspended midfielder Josue and Uruguayan defender Diego Lugano, who was summoned home for a World Cup qualifier.

First i thought it was that Chilvert goalkeeper who i remember scoring free kicks a few years ago.

wow