Palmeiras beat Sao Paulo to reach Copa Libertadores last four

SAO PAULO, Aug. 18: Reigning Copa Libertadores champions Palmeiras advanced to the semifinals of South America's premier club competition on Tuesday with a 3-0 home win over rivals Sao Paulo.

The result at Allianz Parque followed a 1-1 draw in last week's first leg of the all-Brazilian quarterfinal and means Abel Ferreira's men will face either Atletico Mineiro or River Plate in the last four.

Raphael Veiga opened the scoring with a cool finish on a counterattack and playmaker Dudu doubled the lead by lashing home a superb first-time strike from the edge of the 18-yard box.

Patrick de Paula completed the rout when his 20-yard drive took a deflection and fortuitously flew into the bottom left corner.

The visitors were forced to play the last eight minutes with 10 men after substitute Vitor Bueno was shown a straight red card for a studs-up challenge on Gustavo Gomez. Enditem