Drama unfolded in Australia and Brazil as the identity of next weekend's finalists became known. Meanwhile, sides from Argentina, Mexico, Paraguay and Uruguay recorded impressive victories in the early stages of their championships, and there was joy for the leaders in Cameroon and the United Arab Emirates. FIFA.com reflects on an engrossing few days of action outside of Europe.

Argentinian Clausura: Giants respond in style
Boca Juniors and Independiente found their rhythm in Round 2 of the Clausura, but a trio of sides lead the way on six points. Velez Sarsfield, Estudiantes and San Martin won away at Olimpo, Gimnasia de Jujuy and and Gimnasia respectively to maintain their 100 per cent starts to the campaign.

Juan Roman Riquelme delighted the Bombonera faithful as Boca hit four unanswered goals past Argentinos Juniors to move on to four points, while Independiente's very own No10, Daniel Montenegro, scored twice in a 4-1 defeat of Tigre. Elsewhere, Newell's Old Boys and River Plate finished goalless.

Big game: Following 83 goalless minutes, Alan Sanchez earned Huracan victory over recent Apertura champions Lanus.
Headline grabber: A brace from Venezuelan ace Cesar Gonzalez led Colon to a 3-0 defeat of Arsenal.

Brazilian state championships: Fogão and Fla reach final
Botafogo will take on Flamengo in the final of the Taca Guanabara after the pair emerged victorious from a collision of Rio's 'big four'. O Fogão won their semi-final against Fluminense 2-0 courtesy of goals from Wellington Paulista and Lucio Flavio.

Joel Santana's charges then edged fierce enemies Vasco, although their 2-1 victory was anything but straightforward. After Fla centre-back Fabio Luciano had equalised Alan Kardec's opener, Vasco were then awarded a 50th-minute penalty. Up stepped Edmundo, but his tame spot-kick against his old club was saved by Bruno, before another header from a defender - this time Ronaldo Angelim - sealed victory for Flamengo.

Big game: The top two met in the Paulista State Championship and it was Ponte Preta who emerged triumphant, winning 3-0 at Guaratingueta to replace their rivals atop of the standings.
Headline grabber: Just four days after losing 1-0 to Serrano, Sport beat the same side 8-0 in the Pernambucano State Championship to consolidate their position at the summit. O Leão do Norte's success was indebted to Leandro Machado, who netted a hat-trick on his return to the starting line-up.

Mexican Clausura: Santos and Toluca go top
Daniel Luduena, Christian Benitez and Fernando Arce were on target as Santos Laguna beat Atlante 3-0 to replace their opponents atop of Group 2. There, they head Monterrey on goal difference after Ricardo La Volpe's side edged Monarcas 1-0 away thanks to Humberto Suazo's early goal.

Another former Mexico coach, Manuel Lapuente, drew his first match at the Tigres reins in 20-odd years as they up 0-0 with Guadalajara, who nonetheless remain five points clear at the head of Group 3. In Group 1, a 2-1 win at Necaxa sent Toluca into pole position due to Pachuca's loss at Real San Luis.

Big game: Tecos trailed Puebla 1-0 going into the last ten minutes of their contest. Three goals inside four minutes swung the balance in their favour, however, and they held out for a 3-2 victory despite a second goal from Nicolas Olivera, adidas Golden Ball recipient at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Malaysia 1997.
Headline grabber: A number of foreigners found the net in Round 6 of the Clausura. Among them was Esteban Solari, whose brace thrust Pumas to a 4-1 win over Jaguares.

Cameroonian League: Canon power clear
Canon Yaounde put distance between themselves and the chasing pack by seeing off a spirited Les Astres de Douala challenge at home. Owona's 15-minute strike - coupled with some fine goalkeeping from Janvier Mbarga, the only African-based member of Cameroon's recent Ghana 2008 squad - proved enough for Joseph Atangana's side to earn a fourth successive 1-0 victory.

Tiko United and Cotonsport Garoua, now five and six points off the pace respetively, both have a game in hand on the leaders, while Caiman de Douala jumped into fifth - ten points off the pace - with a 1-0 reverse of Tonnerre.

Big game: Six wins, six losses; 13 goals scored, 13 conceded - Sable de Batie's statistics read as they were after a 0-0 draw with Esperance.
Headline grabber: The ever-dependable Eric Zambo turned in another immaculate display for Canon, thwarting Les Astres de Douala's persistent advances time and time again.

UAE League: Boost for inactive frontunners
Al Shabab's title hopes were given a significant lift as their two closest rivals slipped up over the weekend. Runners-up Al Sha'ab came from behind to earn a point at home to away specialists Al Ahli, and the Sharjah outfit's assault on gold was dealt a further blow when the influential Thamer Mohammed was sent on in the closing stages. For their part, Al Jazira fell to a 2-0 defeat at defending champions Al Wasl.

The results left Al Shabab - who will entertain Hatta tonight in their game in hand - one point clear of Al Sha'ab, with Al Jaziri a further three points back in third.

Big game: Emirates won for the first time in ten matches, a Khatibi Rasoul double inspiring a second-half comeback and a 3-1 win at Al Wahda.
Headline grabber: Brazilian forward Andry Diaz threatened throughout and struck twice in the last 20 minutes to sink Al Jaziri.

Elsewhere
Newcastle Jets booked an Australian A-League Grand Final date with Central Coast Mariners - and a place in next year's AFC Champions League - by undoing Queensland Roar in a dramatic Preliminary Final on Sunday. A last-gasp penalty from Roar striker Reinaldo took the contest into extra-time, where Gary van Egmond's team got the better of three goals to run out 3-2 winners.

Matchday 20 in the Qatari Q-League pitted the league's most prolific attack against its worst defence. What transpired in Doha, therefore, came as no great surprise. Brazilian marksman Araujo was the standout performer as Al Gharafa's beat Al Wakra 6-2 to stay 11 points clear of second-placed Al Sadd. His five-goal return moved him on to 23 - and his employers on to 60 - in the championship.

Although the deadlock remained intact for over 50 minutes, Defensor Sporting ran riot thereafter to win 6-1 at Rampla Juniors as the Uruguayan Clausura got underway. The Paraguayan Apertura also began and 3 de Febrero made a dream start as a heroic, four-goal display from Jose Franco inspired them to a 4-2 success at the mighty Cerro Porteno.