San Nicolás (Mexico), May 27 (IANS): Former Brazil international striker Rafael Sobis scored a goal and set up another as Mexican football club Tigres UANL defeated Ecuador's Emelec 2-1 on aggregate to advance to the Copa Libertadores semifinals.

The Mexican club's 2-0 victory at the Estadio Universitario followed the Ecuadorian outfit's 1-0 win in last week's first leg in Guayaquil, reports Xinhua.

Sobis struck in the sixth minute with a long-range effort that skidded beyond the flailing arms of Esteban Dreer. Jose Arturo Rivas then headed in Tigres' second goal after Sobis' clever run into the box and cross.

"The team should be congratulated for the way we played and used our intelligence. We deserve to be in the next phase. Now we have to prepare ourselves and work hard to keep advancing. We can dream but we have to take it step by step," Sobis said.

Tigres are aiming to be the first Mexican team to win South America's top club competition.