ARAb StAtES diSMAyEd At WESt'S cOMPlAcENcy - Kuwait Times

SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2013
Sports
Atletico Mineiro
thump Sao Paulo
FIFA president
Blatter targets
another term
44
Brazilian champions
Fluminense lose 2-1
BUENOS AIRES: Libertadores Cup favorites
Atletico Mineiro took a big step towards the
quarter-finals with a 2-1 away win over 10-
man Sao Paulo in the first leg of their last 16 tie
on Thursday. Brazilian champions Fluminense
lost 2-1 at Ecuador’s Emelec after conceding
an own goal and a penalty. Jadson gave Sao
Paulo an early lead at the Morumbi with
Ronaldinho equalizing just before halftime.
Diego Tardelli scored the winner in the 60th
minute. It was the third meeting between the
Brazilian rivals in the competition and sweet
revenge for Atletico, whose perfect record in
the group phase was ended when Sao Paulo
beat them 2-0 two weeks ago.
In an incident-packed first half, Sao Paulo
centre back Lucio was sent off for a dangerous
challenge on Bernard, his second booking,
leaving his side a man short from the 35th
minute on. “The game was set in a certain way
and it took a different turn after (Lucio’s dismissal).
Unfortunately, any loss of a player is
fatal when two balanced teams meet,” Sao
Paulo captain Rogerio Ceni told Fox Sports.
“We made the most of our qualities, our shooting,
our pedigree. It’s always like that, we have
a different spirit when we play for something,”
said Ronaldinho.
Ronaldinho had angered Sao Paulo players
when he said the teams’ previous meeting had
been nothing more than a training session for
Atletico, who had already qualified. Sao Paulo
began in fiery mood and took the lead in the
ninth minute when Paulo Henrique Ganso
sidestepped two defenders inside the box and
squared to Jadson, who fired a shot past goalkeeper
Victor. The home side were forced to
make a substitution immediately afterwards
because Aloisio injured his groin making the
cross to Ganso and was replaced by
Ademilson.
SAO PAULO: Ronaldinho of Brazil’s Atletico Mineiro (left) and Wellington of Brazil’s Sao Paulo FC battle for control of the ball during a
Copa Libertadores soccer match in Sao Paulo. — AP
RONALDINHO EQUALISER
The substitute was guilty of a glaring miss
soon after coming on, firing a chance over the
bar when he had only Victor to beat. Atletico
equalized three minutes before halftime when
Bernard hit a corner well beyond the far post
where the unmarked Ronaldinho steered a
header back across the face of goal past a static
Rogerio Ceni. Tardelli scored the winner on
the hour mark, running on to a through ball
from fellow striker Jo to slot past the goalkeeper
and give Atletico the advantage for the
return leg next Wednesday at the
Independencia in Belo Horizonte.
In Guayaquil, Emelec went ahead in the
32nd minute when central defender Leandro
Euzebio turned the ball into his own net trying
to cut out a cross from right back Carlos Vera.
“Flu” pulled level just before the interval with a
superb left-footed shot by midfielder Wagner
from outside the box. With the final whistle
just minutes away, Carlinhos brought down
Emelec striker Marcos Mondaini and Fernando
Gaibor scored the winner with a well-taken
penalty out of reach of the diving Diego
Cavalieri. — Reuters