Chilean champions Colo Colo wasted a flurry of chances as they were knocked out of the Libertadores Cup by America on Tuesday, despite winning their third-round second leg 2-1.
The Mexican team, who rested eight players for the trip to Santiago because of fixture congestion, went through to the last eight by virtue of their 3-0 win at home last week.
Colo Colo created enough openings to have wiped out the deficit but were let down by poor finishing, which included two candidates for the worst miss of the year.
In the 22nd minute, teenager Alexis Sanchez beat three men on the right and found Moises Villaroel who, needing only to tap the ball in at the far post, contrived to shoot wide from six metres.
In the 66th minute, Arturo Vidal incredibly headed the ball over the crossbar from two metres with the goal at his mercy.
Sanchez and Luis Mena also hit the woodwork in the first half, while Humberto Suazo was denied by superb save from Guillermo Ochoa.
Colo Colo finally broke through with 20 minutes remaining, when Gonzalo Fierro′s shot struck the post and rebounded off America defender Jose Antonio Castro into the net.
America, who face Atlas in a two-leg Mexican championship quarter-final tie on Thursday and Sunday, survived further pressure before killing the tie when Carlos Infante scored with a rasping 30-metre drive in the 88th minute.
Suazo scored again for the Chileans one minute later but did not even bother celebrating. The hosts also had midfielder Rodrigo Melendez sent off in injury-time for a wild challenge.
Colombian champions Cucuta joined America in the last eight by knocking out Toluca, despite losing 2-0 away to the Mexicans in their second leg.
Cucuta, one of the competition′s surprise packages, comfortably went through 5-3 on aggregate.
Brazilian-born midfielder Antonio Naelson scored with a low shot from the edge of the area in the 22nd minute.
However, by the time Ignacio Scocco added the second in the last minute, it was too late for Toluca.
04 04 2007
Chilean champions Colo Colo went on a second-half scoring spree to beat Ecuador′s LDU 4-0 in the Libertadores Cup and boost their chances of reaching the last 16.
Nacional beat LDU′s compatriots Emelec 3-1 in Group Four, a result which leaves defending champions Internacional in danger of elimination, and Banfield completed an unhappy night for Ecuador with a 1-0 win away to army club El Nacional in Quito.
Gonzalo Fierro began the rout in the Santiago when he won and converted a 50th minute penalty to set Colo Colo on their way to a third straight win in Group Six, where they lost their opening two games.
Fierro was on target again in the 72nd minute while Humberto Suazo and Rodrigo Millar shared the other goals.
Colo Colo lead with nine points from five games, followed by Caracas FC of Venezuela on six. Argentina′s River Plate and LDU have five points each.
Caracas FC and River Plate have played a game less and meet on Thursday.
Nacional scored all their goals in the first half in Montevideo as they effectively ended Emelec′s hopes in Group Four.
Agustin Viana put the Uruguayans ahead in the 18th minute with a cross that took a deflection and flew over Marcelo Elizaga into the goal.
Javier Delgado′s 35-metre free kick made it 2-0 on the half hour and Carlos Juarez pounced on a poor back pass to round Elizaga and add the third on the stroke of halftime.
Jeronimo Morales pulled one back for the Electrics in injury time.
Nacional, second in the group with seven points from four games, went three ahead of Brazil′s Internacional with two games each to play. Argentina′s Velez Sarsfield lead the group with eight points and Emelec trail with three.
Midfielder Daniel Quinteros scored the winner 10 minutes from time as modest Argentine side Banfield won 1-0 against El Nacional in Group One.
El Nacional dominated the game in front of a sparse crowd at the Atahualpa stadium but twice hit the post and were denied by goalkeeper Christian Luchetti.
Banfield are second in Group One with nine points from five games, three ahead of Mexico′s America who have a game in hand. Paraguayan champions Libertad lead with 10 points and El Nacional prop up the table with one.
05 03 2007
Colo Colo, who won both championships played last year, cruised to a 3-0 win over Antofagasta to stay top of the Apertura tournament with a maximum 18 points from six games.
Gonzalo Fierro snapped up a rebound to put the Chieftains ahead with his sixth goal of the season and striker Humberto Suazo pounced on a poor clearance to add the second before halftime. Suazo then set up the third for Jose Luis Jerez in the 55th minute.
Universidad Catolica and Universidad de Chile played out a dismal goalless draw in their Santiago derby.
Universidad de Chile, who have scored only once in five games and are still in the hands of a receiver after being declared bankrupt, are languishing in 17th place with five points.
