Juninho Pernambucano was among the scorers as the Brasileiro leaders trounced the Bolivian opposition.
The latest from the Copa Sudamericana
Santa Fe 4-1 Botafogo (Santa Fe win 5-2 on aggregate)
Santa Fe completely demolished the opposition with a fantastic first half display of fluid football against a weakened Botafogo side.
The Colombians took the lead after just two minutes. Bruno Cortes was caught on the ball and with the Fogao defence flustered, Oscar Rodas tapped home the opener. Their lead was doubled just six minutes later when Omar Perez finished off a swift counter attack with a terrific effort that left Jefferson no chance.
It went from bad to worse for the Rio de Janeiro side when Leo sent the ball into his own net on the stroke of half time, following another break from the hosts. When Rodas grabbed his second with an emphatic finish from 20 yards following a great turn, the tie looked well and truly over.
With just three minutes remaining Botafogo caught their opposition unawares with a quick break. Alexandre Oliveira completed the move, his attempt going in off the post.
The hosts had completely terrorised Fogao and earned themselves a place in the quarter-finals. They will meet Velez Sarsfield in an extremely tricky tie with the first leg being played in Buenos Aires.
Vasco da Gama 8-3 Aurora (Vasco win 9-6 on aggregate)
Beautiful passing football was the name of the game for the Brazilians with Fagner and Juninho Pernambucano at the heart of it. Bernardo opened the scoring after a terrific turn in the area created space for a thumping effort.
As Vasco pushed for more goals to get back into the tie, Aurora countered and scored a valuable away goal. Augusto Andaveris slammed a shot into the top corner after a brisk break.
Gonzalo Galindo’s dismissal in the 36th minute was the catalyst for a Vasco onslaught. Alecsandro had threatened all night and finally manage to nod in two goals before the break.
Vasco were at the top of their game and after Leandro added a fourth, Juninho Pernambucano tucked an effort away from the penalty spot. The home crowd were once again on tenterhooks when Diomedes Pena dispatched a penalty just moments later.
The effect of the goal was short-lived as Vasco shrugged it off by attacking. Bernardo bent another via the bar and Douglas headed in number seven for the Brazilians. Segovia managed to get another for Aurora but it was too little too late. Allan completed the rout in stoppage time with a tidy finish after beating a defender on the edge of the box.
The record-breaking victory sets up a tie with Universitario in the quarter-finals. The first leg will be played in Lima next week.
Universidad de Chile 1-0 Flamengo (Universidad win 5-0 on aggregate)
The U made Flamengo look a second rate side over the two legs. They started well and took a deserved lead in the first half. Chilean prodigy Eduardo Vargas efforts down the right paid off when his cross deflected into the path of Marcelo Diaz. The ball begged to be struck and Diaz hammered an effort into the top corner from 20 yards.
Universidad’s wingers contained the attacking movements of the Flamengo fullbacks who are so pivotal to the creativity of the team. Willians’ shot from distance was their best chance of the half but the effort bounced wide.
The frustration continued for the Rubro-Negro after the break as Jael seemed incapable of hold-up play and lacked a spark to his play. When called upon Jhonny Herrera was inspired, producing a great double-save from Ronaldo Angelim.
Diego Mauricio’s effort was saved by the Chilean keeper late on. Herrera is yet to have conceded a single goal in the competition. He will look to enhance on that record as they face the 2007 edition champions Arsenal de Sarandi in the next round.
Libertad 2-0 Sao Paulo (Libertad win 2-1 on aggregate)
Sao Paulo’s new manager Emerson Leao took charge of his first game in Asuncion and will be extremely disappointed to have been eliminated, especially with the Tricolor’s hopes of Copa Libertadores qualification via the league slipping away.
Libertad began brightly and earned a penalty just ten minutes in to play. Luis Fabiano was booked for his dissent but it did not change the outcome as Sergio Aquino converted the spot kick bring the tie back to square one.
Former Cerro Porteno fullback Ivan Piris hit the post against his former club’s arch rivals five minutes later. Bernardo Medina looked uncomfortable between the sticks and you would have bet on him being beaten before the night was through.
And eventually he was. Dagoberto, who had been troubling the opposition with the ball at his feet, supplied a dead-ball delivery which was headed in by the towering centre back Rhodolfo. However, the goal was chalked out due to a marginal offside decision.
Then just moments later Libertad took the lead rather fortuitously as Jose Nunez was in an offside position. His left-footed shot hit the post but ricocheted in to the goal off of an unsuspecting Rogerio Ceni.
The prize of their victory is a quarter-final date with Ecuadorian powerhouse LDU Quito, the first leg of which will take place in Quito next week.
Tags: Aurora, Botafogo, Flamengo, Juninho Pernambucano, Libertad, Santa Fe, Sao Paulo, Universidad de Chile, Vasco da Gama
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