Palmeiras beats Millonarios in Copa Sudamericana

(AP Photo/Andre Penner)

SAO PAULO (AP) Palmeiras of Brazil took a big stride toward a place in the Copa Sudamericana quarterfinals by beating Colombia's Millonarios 3-1 in Tuesday's first leg of their round-of-16 match.

Obina opened the scoring after a long through ball from playmaker Daniel Carvalho in the 13th minute, Thiago Real added the second for the hosts from near the penalty spot after a pass from Luan in the 54th.

Millonarios did score a potentially significant away goal through defender Artur in the 85th, but Palmeiras restored a two-goal advantage when Luan capitalized on a defensive mistake in the 88th.

Palmeiras rested some regular starters because it's trying to escape relegation in the Brazilian league.

Updated October 2, 2012