Corinthians will face Flamengo in the first knockout round of the Libertadores Cup after their fellow Brazilians scraped in as one of the best group runners-up.
Flamengo, who finished second to Universidad de Chile in Group 8 on Wednesday, had to wait 24 hours to find out if they were among the six best runners-up in the eight groups.
Another Brazilian side, Internacional, beat Deportivo Quito 3-0 at home in Porto Alegre on Thursday to reach the knockout phase as Group 5 winners.
PHOTO: EPA
Midfielder Andrezinho opened the scoring in the fourth minute from a corner, defender Bolivar added a second after an hour and Giuliano completed the win in stoppage-time. Inter substitute Edu was sent off two minutes from time.
Corinthians, who secured top place in Group 1 last week, beat Colombian champions Independiente Medellin 1-0 in Sao Paulo with a Juan Valencia own-goal to amass 16 points from their six matches, the best record in the group phase.
With former Brazil World Cup winners Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos in their squad, they hope to mark the club’s centenary year with their first South American crown.
Two more Brazilian sides, last-year’s runners-up Cruzeiro and three times champions Sao Paulo, also reached the last 16 among the six best second-placed teams to take the country’s total to five qualifiers.
Two spots were reserved for Mexico’s Guadalajara and San Luis, who were given a bye into this year’s knockout phase having had to pull out last year because of the swine flu epidemic.
They have been pitted against Argentine opponents, with San Luis facing holders and Group 3 winners Estudiantes and Guadalajara meeting Velez Sarsfield, who topped Group 7.
In other ties, Universidad de Chile face Alianza Lima, Sao Paulo meet Peruvian champions Universitario, Paraguay’s Libertad face Once Caldas of Colombia, Uruguay’s Nacional play Cruzeiro and Internacional clash with Argentine champions Banfield.
The matches will be played over the next two weeks, with the quarter-finals scheduled next month before the competition goes into recess for the World Cup.
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