Copa Libertadores: Penarol 1 Velez Sarsfeld 0

Penarol will carry a slender advantage into the Copa Libertadores semi-final second leg after a 1-0 win over Velez Sarsfield on Thursday.

Veteran fullback Dario Rodriguez scored the only goal of the first leg at the Estadio Centenario, Montevideo.

The 36-year-old Rodriguez headed a corner beyond Velez keeper Marcelo Barovero to give the Uruguayan hosts the lead seconds before the half-time whistle.

Visitors Velez had enjoyed largely the better of the opening 45 minutes, but Penarol had their goalkeeper Sebastian Sosa to thank for preserving the deadlock.

The Uruguayan side, bidding for a record 10th appearance in the final of the competition, slowly came into the match, hitting the woodwork before Rodriguez’s opener.

With Velez unable to find an equaliser in the second half, they will start 1-0 down on aggregate in the return fixture in Argentina next Thursday.