Palmeiras beats River Plate 2-1 in Copa Libertadores quarterfinal 1st leg

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Defender Gustavo Gomez and striker Vitor Roque scored first-half goals on Wednesday and Brazil’s Palmeiras beat River Plate 2-1 in the first leg of their Copa Libertadores quarterfinal series.

Gomez opened the scoring in the sixth minute while Roque added a goal in the 41st minute for the Brazilians, who are looking for their first championship in this tournament since 2021, when they won it back-to-back.

The second leg will be played on Sept. 24 at Allianz Parque in Sao Paulo.

Lucas Martinez scored in the 89th minute for River Plate, a four-time Copa Libertadores champion.

In the other quarterfinal series, Racing holds a 1-0 lead over Velez Sarsfield. On Thursday, Sao Paulo hosts LDU Quito while Argentina’s Estudiantes plays against Flamengo.

The Copa Libertadores final will be played in Lima, Peru on Nov. 29.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Vitor Roque of Brazil's Palmeiras, right, celebrates scoring his side's second goal against Argentina's River Plate during a Copa Libertadores quarterfinal soccer match at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Vitor Roque of Brazil's Palmeiras, left, and Paulo Diaz of Argentina's River Plate battle for the ball during a Copa Libertadores quarterfinal soccer match at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Maximiliano Salas of Argentina's River Plate, left, and Gustavo Gomez of Brazil's Palmeiras battle for the ball during a Copa Libertadores quarterfinal soccer match at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Vitor Roque of Brazil's Palmeiras celebrates scoring his side's second goal against Argentina's River Plate during a Copa Libertadores quarterfinal soccer match at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Vitor Roque of Brazil's Palmeiras, second from right, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's second goal against Argentina's River Plate during a Copa Libertadores quarterfinal soccer match at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Three government ministers resigned in Greece on Friday amid a European investigation into alleged European Union farm subsidy fraud.

Agriculture Minister Kostas Tsiaras stepped down along with Civil Protection Minister Yiannis Kefalogiannis and Deputy Health Minister Dimitris Vartzopoulos. All denied wrongdoing, saying their resignations were intended to facilitate the investigation.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office is seeking immunity waivers for 11 lawmakers in a case that has fueled public anger in Greece and raised concerns in the farming sector.

The center-right government quickly reshuffled the Cabinet, appointing former European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas as agriculture minister.

The investigation is led by European chief prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi, who visited Athens for talks with government officials last year.

The alleged fraud centers on a Greek state agency that failed to prevent the misuse of EU funds through false claims for land and livestock.

This is the second wave of resignations linked to the scandal after five senior officials quit last year.

Greece’s farming sector faces mounting strain, with weeks of protests triggered by delayed subsidy payments tied to the investigation. Thousands staged tractor protests in Athens and central Greece earlier this year.

FILE - European chief prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi checks her notes during a press conference following meetings with Greek officials on various issues, at a custom of Piraeus port, near Athens, Greece, Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis, File)