time champion Boca Juniors advanced to the Copa Libertadores semifinals thanks to a 90th minute goal which secured a 1-1 draw against Fluminense Wednesday. Corinthians also advanced to the final four when midfielder Paulinho scored a late winner against fellow Brazilian club Vasco da Gama. Boca had won the first leg 1-0 at home, but Thiago Carleto scored for Fluminense early Wednesday to level the quarterfinal on aggregate. A penalty shootout seemed likely until Santiago Silva scored the decisive goal to stun the crowd at the packed Engenhao stadium in Rio de Janeiro. The Uruguayan striker found the net from close range after Diego Rivero's shot struck the far post and came back across the area. Fluminense goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri partially deflected the ball after the rebound but Silva charged in to score. Veteran playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme started the play with a long pass to Rivero, who entered the area before firing his low cross shot into the far post. Midfielder Carleto had opened the scoring for Fluminense in the 17th minute with a long-range free kick that deflected off the wall and fooled Boca Juniors goalkeeper Agustin Orion. The ball slowed after hitting the defenders, but still trickled into the net. Boosted by the home fans, Fluminense controlled possession and had most of the dangerous scoring opportunities, while Boca Juniors threatened only in a few occasions. Fluminense played without two key players because of injury: former Chelsea playmaker Deco and star striker Fred. In Sao Paulo, Paulinho scored an 88th-minute goal to give Corinthians the win over Vasco. The first leg in Rio de Janeiro had ended goalless. This match also looked headed for a shootout until Paulinho netted the winner with a header off a corner, finding the net from just outside the six-yard box. Playmaker Diego Souza spurned a golden chance for Vasco in the 63rd. He had a clear shot after a breakaway from the midfield line, but Corinthians goalkeeper Cassio just barely tipped the ball wide. From the ensuing corner, defender Nilton struck the crossbar with a header. It was a match of Brazil's most successful clubs of last year. While Corinthians won its fifth Brazilian league, Vasco won the Brazilian Cup. The Rio de Janeiro club also was runner-up to Corinthians in the league. Corinthians remains in with a chance of snaring its first-ever Libertadores title; the only major competition it is yet to win. In the semifinals, Boca will play either Paraguay's Libertad or Universidad de Chile. Universidad will host the second leg Thursday, having secured a 1-1 draw in the away game. Corinthians will face local rival Santos or Argentina's Velez Sarsfield. Santos is at home Thursday for the second leg, having lost the opening game 1-0 in Buenos Aires.
