Santos beat Blooming 1-0

La Paz:

Brazil's Santos earned a lackluster 1-0 victory on Wednesday over Bolivian side Blooming in the first leg of their Copa Libertadores preliminary phase matchup. Pedro scored at the 48th minute to give the Brazilians the slim advantage they will defend at home in the second leg on February 7. Playing in Tahuichi stadium in the eastern Bolivian city of Santa Cruz, Santos had an opportunity to add to their lead in the 74th minute when Rodrigo Tabata was brought down in the box by Cristian Werly. But Cleber Santana slammed his penalty shot off the crossbar. The winner of the two-leg series advances to the tournament's group phase, earning a slot in Group One with Argentina's Gimnasia y Esgrima, Uruguay's Defensor Sporting and Colombia's Deportivo Pasto.