Boca win Libertadores with Riquelme double

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (Reuters) - Juan Roman Riquelme scored two second-half goals as Boca Juniors beat Gremio 2-0 away on Wednesday to win the South American Libertadores Cup.

Riquelme, playing the final match of his spell on loan from Spain's Villareal, took his tally to eight goals as the Argentines completed a 5-0 aggregate win over their Brazilian opponents in the two-leg final.

The lanky playmaker scored with a superb long-range effort in the 69th minute and slid home a rebound nine minutes from time.

Boca striker Martin Palermo, who famously missed three penalties for Argentina against Colombia at the Copa America in 1999, spared Gremio further punishment when he missed an 85th minute penalty.

It was the sixth time Boca have won the competition, leaving them only one short of compatriots Independiente's record of seven titles.

Twice former champions Gremio, needing to overturn a 3-0 first-leg deficit, were given a rousing reception by the 45,000 crowd at the Olimpico stadium, who were hoping for an historic fightback.

Boca had a sleepless night on the eve of the game after a group of Gremio fans let off firecrackers in front of the team hotel.

They were also given a hostile reception at the stadium, where fans jeered as the Argentine national anthem was played.

NERVOUS GREMIO