BUENOS AIRES, Sep. 20 (Xinhua) -- Six-time champions Boca Juniors of Argentina scored either side of halftime to clinch a 2-0 victory over Brazil's Cruzeiro in the first leg of their Copa Liberadores quarterfinal on Wednesday.

Mauro Zarate opened the scoring in the 36th-minute at Boca's Bombonera stadium by poking home from close range after a slick one-two with Pablo Perez.

Cruzeiro were reduced to 10 men in the 75th minute when Dede was shown a straight red card after clashing heads in an aerial duel with Boca goalkeeper Esteban Andrada.

Perez scored the hosts' second goal by firing in from the edge of the box after a failed Edilson clearance eight minutes from time.

The return leg will be played at Cruzeiro's Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte on October 4.

In Wednesday's only other match, Argentine rivals Independiente and River Plate played out a goalless draw at the former's Libertadores de America stadium.