BUENOS AIRES, Sept 27 (Reuters) - River Plate, reduced to nine men, scored three times in the last 16 minutes to beat Botafogo 4-2 and reach the Copa Sudamericana quarter-finals.
Colombian striker Radamel Falcao Garcia scored a hat-trick,
including the decisive injury-time goal, as Daniel Passarella's
team won 4-3 on aggregate after an astonishing fight back in
Thursday night's game.
Former Argentina coach Passarella, jeered by the crowd when
his team was losing and under increasing pressure at the club,
ran on to the field to join jubilant celebrations at the end.
The Brazilians, themselves reduced to 10 men in the first
half, had seemed home and dry when Dodo put them 2-1 ahead and
left River, who had two players sent off in quick succession,
needing to score three to qualify.
'I'm ashamed,' said Botafogo coach Cuca.
Botafogo, 1-0 ahead from the first leg, notched a valuable
away goal through Lucio Flavio in the 11th minute.
Falcao Garcia headed River level in the 31st minute and
Botafogo midfielder Ze Roberto was sent off for a second
bookable offence two minutes later.
River defender Federico Lussenhoff was dismissed for a
second yellow card just before the hour and Dodo put Botafogo
back in front in the 66th minute.
River appeared down and out when Oscar Ahumada was dismissed
in the 72nd minute.
Instead, Falcao Garcia equalised two minutes later and
Andres Rios sidefooted them in front in the 78th minute. A
dramatic finale ended with Falcao Garcia rising above three
defenders to head the winner in injury-time.
