Sao Paulo beat River Plate 2-0

Sao Paulo:

Goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni scored his 13th goal of the season to help Brazil's Sao Paulo beat Argentina's River Plate 2-0 in a Copa Libertadores first-leg semi-final on Wednesday night. Sao Paulo needs only a draw in the second leg next week in Buenos Aires to advance to the final of Latin America's top club competition. Before the match, River Plate fans clashed with Brazilian police after being prohibited from displaying team banners in the section reserved for them at Morumbi stadium. Police told local media that no serious injuries were immediately reported. In another incident, Sao Paulo fans threw rocks at the bus carrying River Plate players as they arrived at the stadium, breaking six windows but not injuring anybody before police intervened. The win kept alive Sao Paulo's 18-year unbeaten streak in the Copa at Morumbi. In 28 matches since 1987, Sao Paulo has won 25 and drawn three. The result also kept intact the team's eight-game winning streak at home against Argentine clubs in the Copa. The Brazilians seek their first title since championships in 1992 and '93, while River Plate won in 1986 and '96. Brazil's Atletico Paranaense and Mexico's Chivas Guadalajara play the first leg of the other semifinal on Thursday in the southern Brazilian city of Curitiba. (AP)