América de Cali beat Botafogo from Brazil 1-0 Wednesday in the first leg of the eighth finals of the Copa Sudamericana.
The Reds – playing before a home audience – chose the attack from the beginning, but had to wait till the 72nd minute of the game to take the lead, when Gustavo Ramos kicked the ball past Botafogo goalkeeper Juan Castillo.
An earlier free kick by John Valencia hit the crossbar.
América is the only Colombian side left in the tournament, which is traditionally dominated by mostly Argentinian and Brazilian clubs.
The win over Botafogo gives the Cali outfit a good chance to advance to the quarter finals. A draw in Brazil on November 6th would be enough to make it through.
