Published>Fri, May 21 10 08:52 AM
Holders Estudiantes were eliminated from the Libertadores Cup despite a 2-1 home win over Internacional of Brazil in the second leg of their quarter-final on Thursday.
Giuliano struck in the 89th minute with the crucial goal that sent the Brazilian side, who won the first leg 1-0 at home in Porto Alegre last week, through on the away goals rule after the tie ended 2-2 on aggregate.
Inter, champions in 2006, go into an all-Brazilian semi-final against three times winners Sao Paulo, who eliminated last year's runners-up Cruzeiro, also of Brazil, on Wednesday.
The match was marred when Inter's reserve goalkeeper Lauro came on after the final whistle and hit Estudiantes defender Leandro Desabato from behind before running into the dressing room as police tried to control the players.
The incident, which seemed to have been sparked by an argument between Desabato and Inter's Argentine goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri, did not develop into a free-for-all.
Estudiantes had taken a quick two-goal lead with two superb strikes in the 19th and 21st minutes.
Captain Juan Sebastian Veron found Leandro Gonzalez with a brilliant, high cross field pass to the left edge of the box where the striker lobbed Abbondanzieri.
Inter had hardly absorbed the shock when winger Enzo Perez cut inside from the left and sent a curling right-footed shot over Abbondanzieri into the top far corner.
As the match approached its end, Estudiantes sat back and allowed Inter to come at them, with disastrous consequences when substitute playmaker Giuliano sent a low shot inside the base of Agustin Orion's far post with one minute to go.
In the last quarter-final, Brazil's Flamengo were away to Universidad de Chile at the Monumental in Santiago trailing 3-2 after a surprising victory by the Chileans in the first leg at the Maracana.
The winners will meet Guadalajara of Mexico, who went through on Tuesday.
The semi-finals will be played after the World Cup in South Africa, which ends on July 11.
Source: Web Search
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