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Five-goal Cruzeiro sound warning to Boca |
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Monday, 28 April 2008 |
 RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Cruzeiro warmed up for their Libertadores Cup tie with Boca Juniors by thumping arch-rivals Atletico Mineiro 5-0 in the Belo Horizonte derby on Sunday.
Cruzeiro capitalised on defensive blunders to go two goals ahead in less than 20 minutes in the first leg of the Mineiro championship final.
Bolivia striker Marcelo Martins scrambled the first following a mistake by goalkeeper Juninho and Atletico defender Marcos put through his own goal six minutes later.
Midfielder Ramires hooked the third over Juninho in the 38th minute before 19-year-old forward Guilherme and Wagner completed the rout in the second half with breakaway goals.
Cruzeiro are away to titleholders Boca Juniors of Argentina in the first leg of their Libertadores Cup third-round tie on Wednesday.
The Mineiro championship is one of the plethora of state tournaments which begin the marathon Brazilian season.
Forward Kleber scored with a first-half header to give Palmeiras a 1-0 win away to Ponte Preta in the first leg of the Paulista (Sao Paulo state) championship final.
Flamengo beat Botafogo by the same score in the first leg of the Carioca (Rio de Janeiro) final, forward Obina scoring the winner in the 34th minute three minutes after coming on as a substitute.
In the first leg of the Gaucho championship final in Rio Grande do Sul, an injury-time goal gave Juventude a 1-0 win at home to favourites Internacional. (Reporting by Brian Homewood; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
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