RIO DE JANEIRO, May 6 (Reuters) - Three-times former champions Estudiantes were knocked out of the Libertadores Cup by Ecuador's LDU on Tuesday and their frustration boiled over when a player was sent off for tweaking an opponent's nose.
An unhappy night for Argentina in the third round, second
leg matches was completed when Lanus were eliminated by
Mexico's Atlas despite drawing 2-2 away.
Estudiantes beat LDU 2-1 in La Plata but it was not enough
for the Argentines who lost 3-2 on aggregate.
Overdependent on midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron,
Estudiantes went behind when goalkeeper Mariano Andujar
inadvertently picked up a back pass in the 26th minute.
The resulting free kick was rolled to Luis Bolanos, who
scored with a deflected shot to leave Estudiantes needing four
goals in just over an hour.
Defender Agustin Alayes scrambled an equaliser in the 42nd
minute and Ezequiel Maggiolo backheeled a second in the 66th as
Estudiantes threatened to pull it off.
But they ran out of ideas and tempers flared in stoppage
time after LDU forward Joffre Guerron, who had taunted
Estudiantes defenders with his speed and stepovers, was fouled.
Guerron remonstrated as he sat on the ground, Estudiantes
substitute Enzo Perez tweaked the Ecuadorean's nose and was
sent off.
In Guadalajara, Argentine champions Lanus twice came from
behind to draw 2-2 with Atlas but went out 3-2 on aggregate.
Bruno Marioni and Ulises Mendivil scored for Atlas while
Jose Sand and Lautaro Acosta replied for Lanus, the second in
stoppage time.
A skirmish broke out at the final whistle but the players
were restrained by team officials.
Fluminense got Brazil's week off to a good start by beating
Colombian champions Atletico Nacional 1-0 in Rio de Janeiro to
complete a 3-1 aggregate win. Defender Roger headed the winner
from a free kick early in the second half.
Brazil have four more teams in action later this week,
Flamengo, Sao Paulo, Cruzeiro and Santos, and all have a good
chance of reaching the quarter-finals.
