Cuenca scores historic victory over football juggernaut Boca Juniors; advances in Copa Libertadores play

Deportivo Cuenca made history Thursday night defeating football powerhouse Boca Juniors at Alejandro Serrano Aguilar Stadium. The 1 – 0 victory before a packed  house of 25,000 marked the first time an Ecuadorian team has defeated the Argentinians, considered by many to be the top team in the world.

The victory also advanced Cuenca’s hopes in Copa Libertadores competition. Cuenca, the only Ecuadorian team still competing for the Cup, plays at Guarani, Paraguay next week. 

The only goal of the game came at the 78 minute mark of the second half as Cuenca substitute Edison Preciado broke through Boca defenders to score the winner.

Preciado shared hero honors with Cuenca goalie Israel Alvarez who stopped several hard kicks on goal, including two by Boca striker Rodrigo Texeira.

In three previous meetings with Boca, Cuenca managed one 0 – 0 draw at home in 2005, against two loses. The most recent loss, 1 – 0, came in Buenos Aires in early March, also in Copa Libertadores competition.

In the past 10 years, Boca has won six Copa Libertadores, three Intercontinental Cups, four Copa Sudamericanas and two world club championships. During the period, the Argentine club has battled England's Manchester United for top international team ranking.

Photo caption: Fabian Vargas, left, of Boca and Cuenca's Holger Matamorros fight for position in Thursday night's game; photo credit: EFE News Service / El Telegrafo