TIANSHANNET   ›   Photo Gallery   ›   Sports

Defending champion Palmeiras reaches Copa Libertadores last four

SAO PAULO, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Defender Murilo Cerqueira converted the decisive penalty as defending champion Palmeiras advanced to the Copa Libertadores semifinals on Wednesday with a 6-5 shootout victory over Brazilian rival Atletico Mineiro.

Cerqueira held his nerve with his team's sixth attempt directly after Rubens Dias saw his timid effort saved by Palmeiras goalkeeper Weverton.

Palmeiras finished the match with only nine players on the pitch following red cards to Danilo and Gustavo Scarpa. Atletico forward Eduardo Vargas, meanwhile, was dismissed in the 96th minute for a second yellow-card offense.

The teams ended the allotted 90 minutes of Wednesday's quarterfinal second leg tied at 0-0 following a 2-2 draw in the first encounter.

In Wednesday's other all-Argentine quarterfinal, Velez Sarsfield beat Talleres Cordoba 1-0 to advance 4-2 on aggregate.