Goalscorers took the limelight in the first legs of the first knockout round of the Copa Libertadores de America this week. Maxi Lopez, Rodrigo Teixeira and Mauro Boselli all showcased their finishing skills to help Gremio, Deportivo Cuenca and Estudiantes gain an advantage in their respective ties. Elsewhere Cruzeiro picked up a vital win in Chile and Palmeiras drew first blood in the all-Brazilian duel with Sport Recife.

FIFA.com picks out the highlights from the week's five games.

Game of the week
Estudiantes (ARG) 3-0 Libertad (PAR)
Goals: Gaston Fernandez 1, Mauro Boselli 63 pen, 69

El Pincha produced a powerful display to brush aside Libertad's challenge in La Plata. Alejandro Sabella's side needed only 30 seconds to pierce the Paraguayans' rearguard, Fernandez scoring with a fine header. Boselli, a product of the Boca Juniors youth academy, then added two second-half goals as the Argentinians planted one foot firmly in the next round. Hampered by the dismissal of Miguel Samudio, El Gumarelo have left themselves with much to do if they are to turn the tie around in Asuncion next Thursday.

Surprise of the week
Universidad de Chile (CHI) 1-2 Cruzeiro (BRA)
Goals: Manuel Villalobos 85 (Univ. de Chile); Soares 8, Marquinhos Parana 51 (Cruzeiro)

The Brazilians had never won in Santiago before but set that record straight with a dominant performance. Goals early in each half from Soares and Marquinhos Parana proved adequate reward for Adilson Batista's men and, although Villalobos pulled one back with a fierce strike late on, Cruzeiro will be expected to finish the job off in the return leg in Belo Horizonte.

Elsewhere
In the first tie of the week, Palmeiras maintained their hold over compatriots Sport Recife in this year's competition. Jose Maria Ortigoza scored the only goal of the night when he headed in a free-kick following Hamilton's sending-off. Having failed to snatch an away goal, Sport have it all to do in the second leg and will be mindful of the fact that O Verdao prevailed 2-0 on their last visit to Recife in the group phase in April.

After reaching the knockout phase with the best record of all the 16 qualifiers, Gremio made a further statement of intent by strolling to a 3-1 victory away to Universidad San Martin. The men from Porto Alegre were in control from start to finish and all but killed off the Peruvians' chances thanks to some expert finishing from Maxi Lopez.

Deportivo Cuenca edged out fellow outsiders Caracas 2-1 on a rainy night in Ecuador. El Expreso Austral did things the hard way, however, falling behind to an Alejandro Cichero strike only three minutes in. Brazilian goal machine Rodrigo Teixeira led the fightback for the home side, scoring his seventh goal of the competition before Ismael Villalba gave Deportivo a slender lead to take with them to Venezuela.

Player of the week
Maxi Lopez (Gremio)

The Argentinian maintained his fine form by scoring two goals and setting up another in his side's emphatic defeat of Universidad San Martin in Peru. Nicknamed Xuxa in Brazil in recognition of his shock of blond hair, Lopez teed up Wilson Souza for the opening goal and then sealed victory with a brace of well-taken headers.

The stat
4 - The number of players who were sent off this week, with Hamilton (Sport Recife), Rafael Olarra (Universidad de Chile), Miguel Angel Samudio (Libertad) and Rafael Castellin (Caracas) all receiving their marching orders. The only match where no red cards were shown was Universidad San Martin-Gremio.

What they said
"That's the most important goal I've scored since coming to Palmeiras. It was a tough match and they kept it very tight. I hope I can go on now and claim a permanent place in the team," Paraguayan striker Jose Maria Ortigoza expresses his delight scoring against Sport Recife.

This week's first-leg results
Tuesday 5
Palmeiras (BRA) 1-0 Sport Recife (BRA)

Wednesday 6
Universidad San Martin (PER) 1-3 Gremio (BRA)

Thursday 7
Deportivo Cuenca (ECU) 2-1 Caracas (VEN)
Estudiantes (ARG) 3-0 Libertad (PAR)
Universidad de Chile (CHI) 1-2 Cruzeiro (BRA)

Postponed
Guadalajara (MEX) - Sao Paulo (BRA)
San Luis (MEX) - Nacional (URU)
Defensor Sporting (URU) - Boca Juniors (ARG)