Martinez hat-trick fires Racing to victory over Cruzeiro

BUENOS AIRES, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Argentina under-20 striker Lautaro Martinez scored a hat-trick as Racing Club beat Brazil's Cruzeiro 4-2 on the opening night of the Copa Libertadores group stage.

Martinez took just 14 minutes to give the Argentine side the lead as he darted past Cruzeiro's defence to meet a Neri Cardozo set piece with a deft volley.

Uruguayan midfielder Giorgian De Arrascaeta equalized with a header before Martinez scored again with a low shot after a scramble.

The 20-year-old netted his third goal just after the hour mark with an expertly placed header, but Cruzeiro reduced the deficit again via a long-range Robinho Signorini free kick.

The hosts put the result beyond doubt when goalkeeper Rafael somehow failed to keep out an Augusto Solari shot from a tight angle.

In Santiago, a second-half strike from Vladimir Hernandez gave Colombia's Atletico Nacional a 1-0 victory over Chilean giants Colo-Colo.

Hernandez drilled a shot past Augustin Orion after a slick Jorman Campuzano through ball at Colo-Colo's Estadio Monumental.

Nacional are aiming to win South America's top club trophy for a third time while Colo-Colo are vying for a second title.

In other matches on Tuesday, Paraguay's Cerro Porteno won 2-0 at Venezuela's Monagas SC and Gremio drew 1-1 at Uruguay's Defensor Sporting Club. Enditem