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Quito reach Copa Libertadores group stage
LDU Quito of Ecuador advanced to the group stage of the 2005 Copa Libertadores on Thursday despite losing 4-1 to Penarol of Uruguay.
- Indo-Asian News Service
- Updated: February 25, 2007 09:49 AM IST
Read Time: 2 min
Montevideo:
LDU Quito of Ecuador advanced to the group stage of the 2005 Copa Libertadores on Thursday despite losing 4-1 to Penarol of Uruguay and finishing the game with just eight players.
The Ecuadorians were simply looking to allow Penarol no more than two goals, but it would be the visitors who opened the scoring in the 21st minute.
Edison Mendez tried his luck from distance, Penarol goalkeeper Federico Elduayen mad a hash of his block and LDU led 4-0 on aggregate.
Reduced side
Penarol drew level in the leg just four minutes later though - Alfonso Obregon deflecting Ronald Ramirez's cross into his own goal.
LDU were reduced to ten men in the 39th minute with Alex Aguinaga was shown the red card.
Aguinaga was fouled by Penarol's Sergio Leao, but the midfieler swung a leg out as Leao trod on his leg and Brazilian referee Paulo Oliveira gave the LDU midfielder his marching orders.
Numerical advantage
Penarol soon made their numerical advantage count as Pablo Gaglianone rose unmarked in first half injury time to put the home side ahead 2-1.
The ten men of LDU clung to their 4-2 aggregate lead, but their defence finally buckled again in the 71st minute when Jean Jacques Pierre headed powerfully past LDU keeper Jacinto Espinoza to make it 3-1 on the night.
The visitors' penalty area came under constant bombardment in the closing stages and Obregon was sent back to the changing rooms for arguing with the referee after his team mate Giovanny Espinoza fouled Marcelo Tejera.
Substitute Tejera then scored from a rebound deep into injury time as shot stopper Espinoza failed to hold on to Carlos Bueno's powerful free kick.
Time was running out for Penarol, but LDU had a third player sent off just seconds later when Luiz Gonzalez fouled Cristian Rodriguez on his way to goal.
The final whistle blew before Penarol could notch a crucial fifth goal though and the tie finished in a 4-4 draw, which meant that LDU qualified for the main group stage on the away goals rule. (AP)
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