Corinthians suffer shock Libertadores exit
Reuters - Thursday 03 February 2011, 03:57
RIO DE JANEIRO - Corinthians will not be
forgiven by fans for their shock exit from the Libertadores Cup
in the preliminary round on Wednesday, a burden they will have
to carry for the whole year, captain Ronaldo said on Wednesday.
Corinthians lost 2-0 at Colombia's Deportes Tolima in the
second leg after the first leg ended 0-0 and missed out on the
group phase of South America's flagship club competition which
they have never won.
"This is a defeat we're going to have to carry for the rest
of the year," former FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldo told
reporters after mediocre performances in both legs against the
Colombian team.
Substitute Danny Santoya put Tolima ahead after 65 minutes
and Corinthians' task became even tougher when their Peruvian
substitute Luis Ramirez was sent off in the 72nd for elbowing an
opponent less than two minutes after coming on.
Striker Wilder Medina headed a second goal in the 77th to
make sure of Tolima's passage into Group Seven where they meet
four-times champions Estudiantes of Argentina, twice winners
Cruzeiro of Brazil and Paraguay's Guarani.
"We can't ask for patience or tolerance from our fans. We
failed and we're very sad," said Ronaldo, visibly disappointed
with the result in the last season of his career.
"We didn't play well. The pitch also didn't help our team.
It's inadmissible that the Conmebol (South American
Confederation) accept such a field. But that isn't an excuse,
our team really weren't good in either leg."
Brazil's Gremio, South American champions in 1983 and 1995,
went through after a 3-1 home win over Liverpool of Uruguay in
which midfielder Vinicius Pacheco scored twice to give them a
5-3 aggregate victory.
Record seven-times champions Independiente of Argentina,
playing in the competition for the first time since 2004, lost
1-0 away to Deportivo Quito on Tuesday but progressed 2-1 on
aggregate.
Mexico's Chiapas reached the group phase with a 4-0
aggregate win over Alianza Lima of Peru on Tuesday. Among their
opponents in Group Six are holders Internacional of Brazil.