Saturday, May 10, 2008

San Lorenzo dumps River Plate from last 16



BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - Gustavo Bergessio scored twice to rally San Lorenzo from two goals down and a two-man disadvantage draw even with River Plate 2-2 at Monumental Stadium and advance to the Copa

Libertadores quarterfinals. Trailing 2-0 deep into the second half, Bergessio scored in the 69th and 73rd minutes when the visitors were playing with just nine men after two expulsions.

San Lorenzo won the opening match of the two-leg second round series 2-1 at home to advance 4-3 on aggregate in a series in which away goals counted for double. San Lorenzo will face Liga of Quito, Ecuador, in their two-leg quarterfinals round.

River led 2-0 off a 12th-minute free kick by Matias Abelairas and a 61st-minute penalty kick by Sebastian Abreu as 50,000, mostly River fans, raucously thundered in the stands.

Bergessio got the first San Lorenzo goal off a powerful left-footer after his San Lorenzo teammates batted the ball at angles all around the area and he connected. He scored again off a glancing header after a corner kick, sending San Lorenzo ahead on aggregate.

For River it was a stunning defeat at their home stadium as fans left in mute silence.

San Lorenzo player Diego Rivero was expelled for rough play in the 42nd minute and teammate Jonathan Botinelli in the 60th for a foul that set up Abreu's conversion off a penalty kick. River also saw Eduardo Tuzzio expelled for tripping up a rival in injury time as River frantically pressed a late attempt to catch its rival.

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