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BUENOS AIRES, May 4 (Reuters) - It was a black night for Brazil in the Libertadores Cup on Wednesday as holders Internacional, favourites Cruzeiro, Brazilian champions Fluminense and Gremio all crashed out of the competition.
Only Santos, who eliminated America of Mexico 1-0 on aggregate, are left to fly the Brazilian flag in the last eight.
Inter, champions in 2006 and last year, lost 2-1 at home to Penarol to go out 3-2 on aggregate. The Uruguayans came from a goal down to score twice in the opening five minutes of the second half.
“We all made errors,” Brazil striker Leandro Damiao told reporters. “It’s lamentable to suffer elimination this way in our own home.”
The biggest shock of the night was Cruzeiro’s 2-0 defeat at home to Once Caldas, who advanced 3-2 on aggregate.
Cruzeiro had won their group at a canter with 16 points out of a possible 18, scoring 20 goals and conceding just one, while Once Caldas of Colombia had scraped into the knockout phase.
Both teams had a player sent off when the score was 0-0.
“We were an apathetic team today that didn’t play well in the decisive moment, which shouldn’t have happened,” Cruzeiro coach Cuca told reporters.
“Today was so black that even the referee erred in favour of our adversaries,” he added, referring to disallowed goal from Gilberto.
Fluminense carried a 3-1 lead with them to Asuncion to play Libertad but failed to hold out, conceding twice in the last five minutes for a 3-0 defeat that put the Paraguayans through 4-3 on aggregate. Fluminense’s Mariano was sent off in added time.
Twice champions Gremio lost 1-0 at Universidad Catolica as the Chilean side qualified 3-1 on aggregate.
Only Santos, who eliminated America of Mexico 1-0 on aggregate, are left to fly the Brazilian flag in the last eight.
Inter, champions in 2006 and last year, lost 2-1 at home to Penarol to go out 3-2 on aggregate. The Uruguayans came from a goal down to score twice in the opening five minutes of the second half.
“We all made errors,” Brazil striker Leandro Damiao told reporters. “It’s lamentable to suffer elimination this way in our own home.”
The biggest shock of the night was Cruzeiro’s 2-0 defeat at home to Once Caldas, who advanced 3-2 on aggregate.
Cruzeiro had won their group at a canter with 16 points out of a possible 18, scoring 20 goals and conceding just one, while Once Caldas of Colombia had scraped into the knockout phase.
Both teams had a player sent off when the score was 0-0.
“We were an apathetic team today that didn’t play well in the decisive moment, which shouldn’t have happened,” Cruzeiro coach Cuca told reporters.
“Today was so black that even the referee erred in favour of our adversaries,” he added, referring to disallowed goal from Gilberto.
Fluminense carried a 3-1 lead with them to Asuncion to play Libertad but failed to hold out, conceding twice in the last five minutes for a 3-0 defeat that put the Paraguayans through 4-3 on aggregate. Fluminense’s Mariano was sent off in added time.
Twice champions Gremio lost 1-0 at Universidad Catolica as the Chilean side qualified 3-1 on aggregate.
