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Cienciano stun the Cup favorites

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Peruvian outsiders Cienciano handed favorites Boca Juniors a stunning 3-0 defeat in the Libertadores Cup on Wednesday.

Boca paid dearly for coach Miguel Angel Russo's decision to rest playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme and striker Martin Palermo for the visit to the historic city of Cusco, high in the Peruvian Andes.

The win took Cienciano, playing their second game under former Argentina international Jose Basualdo, top of Group Seven with nine points from five games, ahead of Boca who have seven points.

Toluca (Mexico) have six points from four games and Bolivar (Bolivia) four points from four games.

Boca, who have not scored a goal in three away games in the group, flew into Cusco three hours before kick-off in an attempt to minimize the effects of playing at 3,300 meters above sea level.

However, the Argentines were reduced to 10 men before half-time when Neri Cardozo was dismissed in the 37th minute, picking up a second yellow card for petulantly kicking the ball away.

They held out until four minutes into the second half when Paolo De La Haza's cross was headed in by Juan Gonzalez Vigil.

Gonzalez Vigil then turned provider as he set up the second for Miguel Mostto in the 79th minute and the third for Miguel Angel Torres in injury-time.

Mostto was sent off for a second bookable offence in between.

Sao Paulo revival

Sao Paulo revived their campaign in Group Two by beating Necaxa 3-0 to end the Mexican team's 100 percent record.

Souza opened the scoring for the Brazilian champions in the 11th minute and created the remaining two goals with crosses from the right in the second half.

First he found Miranda, who scored with a diving near post header in the 56th minute, and then Hugo, who headed in unmarked 17 minutes later.

Necaxa, who still lead with nine points from four games, had defender Horacio Cervantes sent off for two yellow card offences.

Sao Paulo went second with seven points, ahead of Chile's Audax Italiano on goal difference.

Flamengo, already through to the second round, won 2-1 at Venezuela's UA Maracaibo in the evening's other game, ending the home team's chances of qualifying from Group Five.

Renato Augusto headed the winner for the Brazilians in the 81st minute.

Renato had given Flamengo an early lead with a shot from outside the area but Maracaibo equalized in the 76th minute when Paulinho put through his own goal.