Holders Estudiantes bundled out of Libertadores
Reuters - Friday 21 May 2010, 03:45
BUENOS AIRES - Holders Estudiantes were
eliminated from the Libertadores Cup despite a 2-1 home win
over Internacional of Brazil in the second leg of their
quarter-final on Thursday.
Giuliano struck in the 89th minute with the crucial goal
that sent the Brazilian side, who won the first leg 1-0 at home
in Porto Alegre last week, through on the away goals rule after
the tie ended 2-2 on aggregate.
Brazil's Flamengo also won 2-1 away to Universidad de Chile
but went out on the away goals rule after their tie finished
4-4 on aggregate after the Chileans secured a surprise 3-2 win
at the Maracana in the first leg.
Inter, champions in 2006, go into an all-Brazilian
semi-final against three times winners Sao Paulo, who
eliminated last year's runners-up Cruzeiro, also of Brazil, on
Wednesday.
The match was marred when Inter's reserve goalkeeper Lauro
came on after the final whistle and hit Estudiantes defender
Leandro Desabato from behind before running into the dressing
room as police tried to control the players.
The incident, which seemed to have been sparked by an
argument between Desabato and Inter's Argentine goalkeeper
Roberto Abbondanzieri, did not develop into a free-for-all.
Estudiantes had taken a quick two-goal lead with two superb
strikes in the 19th and 21st minutes.
Captain Juan Sebastian Veron found Leandro Gonzalez with a
brilliant, high cross field pass to the left edge of the box
where the striker lobbed Abbondanzieri.
Inter had hardly absorbed the shock when winger Enzo Perez
cut inside from the left and sent a curling right-footed shot
over Abbondanzieri into the top far corner.
As the match approached its end, Estudiantes sat back and
allowed Inter to come at them, with disastrous consequences
when substitute playmaker Giuliano sent a low shot inside the
base of Agustin Orion's far post with one minute to go.
In Santiago, Vagner Love put Flamengo ahead on the stroke
of halftime heading in after Adriano's spectacular overhead
kick.
The U's Argentine forward Walter Montillo lobbed keeper
Bruno for the equaliser in the 73rd minute and Adriano restored
Flamengo's lead from Leo Moura's exquisite backheel.
Flamengo's Willians and Vagner Love were sent off in the
final minutes, Willians for a second yellow and Vagner Love for
dissent.
The Chilean side now meet Guadalajara of Mexico in the
semi-finals, which will be played after the World Cup in South
Africa ends on July 11.
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