Holders Estudiantes coast in Libertadores

(GSM) – A hat-trick by Mauro Boselli got Estudiantes’ Copa Libertadores title defense off on the right foot on Thursday as the Argentine side secured a 5-1 Group 3 win over Juan Aurich.

It took the holders only seven minutes to go in front, Boselli converting from the spot after Jesús Álvarez tripped up José Ernesto Sosa in the area.

But Aurich produced a good spell of pressure after that, and it paid off in the 34th minute when Luis Tejada struck home at the near post – for his fourth goal of the tournament – following Ricardo Ciciliano’s low cross from the right.

But the home side found their way back in front a minute before half-time, defender Germán Ré heading in off the bar from close range after Christian Cellay’s cross in off a corner kick sequence.

Matters got worse for Aurich moments before half-time when influential midfielder Roberto Guizasola earned a straight red card for a late challenge on Sosa racing down the left. That left the Peruvians with 10 men in the second half.

And on the hour mark, Estudiantes made the most of their numerical advantage when Boselli shot across the face of goal past Aurich goalkeeper Diego Morales for his second of the game.

Boselli completed his treble in the 72nd minute after receiving a pass in space from Enzo Pérez, and it was 5-1 in the 89th minute as substitute Leandro González found the back of the net off the hand of Morales.