Bad night for Argentine sides in Libertadores
BUENOS AIRES - Argentine sides fared badly on the opening night of group play in the Libertadores Cup with Lanus losing 2-0 at home and Colon being eliminated from South America's top club competition.
Colon, down to 10 men from the 69th minute, were beaten 3-2 away by Universidad Catolica in the second leg of their preliminary-round tie on Tuesday. The aggregate score was 5-5 with Catolica winning 5-3 on penalties.
The Chilean side went through to Group Eight where they will meet arch-rivals Universidad de Chile, Brazilian champions Flamengo and FC Caracas of Venezuela.
Catolica were 1-0 up at half-time after defender David Henriquez headed them in front in the 40th minute.
Colon hit two quick goals early in the second half through midfielder Ivan Moreno y Fabianesi and 37-year-old former Derby County, RC Lens and Universidad Catolica striker Esteban Fuertes, who scored from a penalty, to go 2-1 up.
Midfielder Milovan Mirosevic had a penalty for the home side saved by keeper Diego Pozo in the 67th minute but two minutes later Colon's Paraguayan defender Salustiano Candia was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Catolica, who should have wrapped up the tie earlier given their superiority, levelled it in the final quarter of an hour with a free kick by midfielder Rodrigo Toloza and a tap-in by striker Juan Jose Morales after Pozo lost the ball.
"Logically, the key moment was Candia's dismissal, which limited Colon to retreating into defence," Catolica coach Marco Antonio Figueroa told reporters.
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Lanus lost to Libertad of Paraguay in the opening Group Four match in Buenos Aires, while Paraguayan champions Nacional were beaten 2-0 at home in Asuncion by Once Caldas of Colombia in Group Two.
Uruguay's Cerro also won 2-0 against Ecuadorean champions Deportivo Quito in Group Five.