Toluca to semis with second-leg rally vs. San Lorenzo

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -- Toluca, trailing 3-1 from the first leg, produced a stirring performance to beat Argentina's San Lorenzo 2-0 in the return on Wednesday and reach the semifinals of the Copa Sudamericana.

Paraguay defender Paulo da Silva headed the decisive goal for the Mexicans in the 69th minute, immediately after playmaker Antonio Naelson had been sent off.

The Brazilian-born Mexican international was dismissed for petulantly retaliating after a foul and was still trudging off the pitch when his team scored.

Four minutes later, San Lorenzo midfielder Diego Rivero was also sent off for lashing out at Bruno Marioni.

Toluca, backed by a noisy 20,000 crowd including their famous shirt-less fans behind one of the goals, opened the scoring in the fifth minute when Carlos Morales scored from a rebound after Agustin Orion had saved Marioni's initial shot.

Toluca, who qualified on away goals, will face Chile's Colo Colo in the semi-finals.

Toluca coach Americo Gallego and San Lorenzo's Oscar Ruggeri -- former teammates at River Plate in the 1980s -- both watched from the stands after being sent off in the first leg.

Atletico Paranaense of Brazil will face Pachuca of Mexico in the other semifinal.

Pachuca clinched their place by drawing 2-2 at home to Lanus on Tuesday to complete a 5-2 aggregate win.

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