Latin American Roundup

Fluminense, Cruzeiro win in Copa Sudamericana

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) -- Defender Rodolfo and striker Sorato scored a goal each Wednesday as Fluminense defeated Corinthians 2-0 in the qualifying round of the Copa Sudamericana.

The result eliminated Corinthians -- which had lost to Atletico Mineiro 2-0 in its opening match -- from the South American competition.

Fluminense and Atletico Mineiro will play for the title of Group 3 on Sept. 3 in Belo Horizonte, with the winner advancing to the semifinal round of the Brazilian qualifying stage.

Defender Rodolfo put Fluminense ahead with a perfect free kick in the 57th minute while Sorato -- who entered the game in the 53rd minute to replace injured striker Fabio Bala -- sealed the win with a right-footer in the 72nd.

It was Fluminense's first win in 10 matches. The Rio de Janeiro side -- which hadn't won since July 6 -- is going through one of the club's worst slumps and is nearing relegation in the Brazilian Championship.

The one-time national champion is just one spot off last place in the competition.

Fluminense got the victory despite the absence of veteran star Romario, who injured his left thigh in the team's 1-1 draw against Criciuma last Saturday.

Corinthians -- ninth in the Brazilian championship -- was outplayed throughout the match at Maracana stadium despite having used its top players. The Sao Paulo state club was inefficient creating scoring chances.

Twelve teams are fighting for Brazil's two spots in the quarterfinals of the Copa Sudamericana.

The teams have been divided into four groups, with the winner of each group advancing to the second stage. Each club plays only two games in this initial round.

Thirty-five clubs are playing in the Copa Sudamericana, which was won last year by Argentina's San Lorenzo.

Lineups:

FLUMINENSE: Kleber; Jeancarlos, Rodolfo, Cesar, Jadilson, Marcao; Djair, Sidney (Diego, 90), Josafa; Joaozinho and Fabio Bala (Sorato, 53).

CORINTHIANS: Rubinho; Rogerio, Anderson, Marquinhos, Kleber; Fabinho, Fabricio, Andre Luiz (Jamelli, 42), Robert; Liedson (Wilson, 80) and Gil (Renato, 79).

Cruzeiro beats Palmeiras 1-0

SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) -- Defender Edu Dracena scored the game-winning goal Wednesday as Cruzeiro defeated Palmeiras 1-0 in the qualifying round of the Copa Sudamericana.

Palmeiras was eliminated from the competition with the result. The Sao Paulo state team had lost to Sao Caetano 3-0 at Anacleto Campanela in the opening round of Group 4 and needed a victory at Palestra Italia stadium to stay alive.

Cruzeiro will play Sao Caetano on Aug. 27 at Mineirao stadium for a spot in the semifinals of the Brazilian qualifying stage.

Edu Dracena put Cruzeiro on the board from inside the box after several Palmeiras defenders failed to clear a corner-kick cross in the 49th minute.

Palmeiras pressured toward the end but could not capitalize on the scoring chances.

With the next round of the Brazilian Championship in mind, coach Wanderley Luxemburgo rested some of Cruzeiro's main players against Palmeiras.

Star playmaker Alex and Colombian striker Victor Aristizabal gave place to veteran midfielder Zinho and striker Alex Dias.

Regular defenders Leandro and Maurinho also were absent.

Cruzeiro -- which will face Ponte Preta next Sunday -- leads the Brazilian Championship, with defending-champion Santos and Sao Paulo close behind.

Palmeiras -- which is playing in the Brazilian Championship second division after a disastrous campaign last year -- played without midfielders Magrao and Pedrinho, who are nursing muscle injuries.

Twelve Brazilian teams are fighting for two spots in the quarterfinals of the Copa Sudamericana.

The winner of the competition will face Argentina's Boca Juniors -- the 2003 Copa Libertadores champion -- in the Recopa Sudamericana.

The Brazilian clubs were absent from the first Copa Sudamericana in 2002.

Lineups:

PALMEIRAS: Marcos; Baiano, Leonardo, Daniel, Lucio; Marcinho, Alceu, Adaozinho (Fabio Gomes, 45), Elson (Andre, 67); Edmilson and Thiago Gentil (Munoz, 45).

CRUZEIRO: Gomes; Maicon, Cris, Edu Dracena, Sandro, Recife; Maldonado (Thiago, 45), Felipe Melo, Zinho; Alex Dias (Alex Alves, 72) and Marcio (Mota, 83).

Mexico: Pumas beat America, 4-3

MEXICO CITY (AP) -- A goal in the final minute by Francisco Fonseca, spoiled a valiant comeback attempt by America to give the Pumas of the Autonomous University of Mexico the victory, in the first division soccer game.

Two weeks into the fall season, the Pumas are now the only team in the division with two victories.

The Pumas went ahead 3-0 Wednesday night on goals by Paraguayan Dario Veron in minute 28, Brazilian Ailton Da Silva in minute 38 and Jaime Lozano in minute 53.

America pumped in three goals to even the score with less than 7 minutes left in play.

The goals were by Uruguayan Sergio Blanco in minute 64, Pavel Pardo in minute 66 and Chilean Ricardo Rojas in minute 84.

Fonseca scored the victory goal by heading at close range a cross-field pass from Da Silva.

About 70,000 spectators watched the contest in the Mexican capital at Estadio Olimpico.

The Pumas, coached by Mexican Hugo Sanchez, were coming off a 1-0 victory against Atlas.

America, coached by Leo Beenhakker, tied Cruz Azul on Sunday in its first game of the season.

 

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