Martinez hat-trick fires Racing to win over Cruzeiro

Buenos Aires Feb 28 (IANS) Argentina under-20 striker Lautaro Martinez scored a hat-trick as Racing Club beat Brazil s Cruzeiro 4-2 on the opening night of the Copa Libertadores group stage.

Martinez took just 14 minutes to give the Argentine side the lead on Tuesday as he darted past Cruzeiro s defence to meet a Neri Cardozo set piece with a deft volley reports Xinhua news agency.

Uruguayan midfielder Giorgian De Arrascaeta equalized with a header before Martinez scored again with a low shot after a scramble.

The 20-year-old netted his third goal just after the hour mark with an expertly placed header but Cruzeiro reduced the deficit again via a long-range Robinho Signorini free kick.

The hosts put the result beyond doubt when goalkeeper Rafael somehow failed to keep out an Augusto Solari shot from a tight angle.

In Santiago a second-half strike from Vladimir Hernandez gave Colombia s Atletico Nacional a 1-0 victory over Chilean giants Colo-Colo.

Hernandez drilled a shot past Augustin Orion after a slick Jorman Campuzano through ball at Colo-Colo s Estadio Monumental.

Nacional are aiming to win South America s top club trophy for a third time while Colo-Colo are vying for a second title.

In other matches on Tuesday Paraguay s Cerro Porteno won 2-0 at Venezuela s Monagas SC and Gremio drew 1-1 at Uruguay s Defensor Sporting Club.

--IANS
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