BUENOS AIRES — Atletico Mineiro's 5-2 victory over Arsenal in the Libertadores Cup was marred by fighting between members of the Argentine team and Brazilian military police on the pitch at the end of the match Wednesday. Ronaldinho had inspired Atletico, who had already qualified for the knockout phase, with two goals as it extended its perfect record in South America's elite club competition to five wins in five Group Three matches. Atletico, emerging as favorite to win the trophy for the first time, did fellow Brazilian side Sao Paulo a favor since it is vying with Arsenal for the group's other berth in the round of 16. Sao Paulo and Arsenal have four points apiece but the Brazilians can pull away if they beat Bolivia's The Strongest at high altitude in La Paz Thursday. Brazilian police, who have a reputation of taking to the pitch at the slightest hint of trouble, were quick to use force to control angry Arsenal players who had confronted the match officials at the final whistle, including pointing guns at them. There was also anger at La Bombonera, where six times South American champions Boca Juniors beat Barcelona 1-0 in Group One, from the Ecuadorean side's Argentine coach Gustavo Costas, who claimed they were denied a blatant penalty in the dying minutes. Boca, which had gone ahead in the ninth minute with a goal from young striker Nicolas Blandi, were lucky the referee waved play on after central defender Matias Caruzzo missed the ball and brought down striker Damian Diaz inside the box. Boca, which leads the group with nine points, will qualify if Uruguay's Nacional beat Toluca of Mexico in Montevideo Thursday. Nacional has seven points, Toluca five and Barcelona three. Holders Corinthians and Mexican debutants Tijuana secured the two qualifying berths in Group Five. The Brazilians beat Millonarios of Colombia 1-0 in Bogota with a second half goal from Danilo, while Tijuana held San Jose 1-1 in the Bolivian city of Oruro high up on the Andean plateau. Chilean champion Huachipato, which began the night bottom of Group Eight with four points, climbed back into contention with a 4-0 rout of Caracas FC in the Venezuelan capital. It now leads the group with seven points, the same number as Fluminense, who face third-placed fellow Brazilian side Gremio, which has six points, away in Porto Alegre next week. — AP
