LDU held off a typically stubborn San Lorenzo to advance to the semi-finals of the Libertadores Cup on Thursday, edging out their 10-man Argentine opponents in a penalty shootout after the second leg ended 1-1.LDU became the first Ecuadorean side to reach the last four of the region's most prestigious club tournament since 1998 when they won 5-3 on penalties after a 2-2 aggregate draw.
However, their passage to the semi-finals was made all the more difficult by a battling performance from their opponents.
Trailing 1-0 and reduced to 10 men after half an hour in Quito, San Lorenzo fought back to force a draw, but their gallant fightback ended in disappointment when Aureliano Torres's penalty in the shootout was saved by Jose Cevallos.
Midfielder Damian Manso put LDU ahead in the 27th minute with a dipping 30-metre shot which flew through the hands of San Lorenzo goalkeeper Agustin Orion.
Three minutes later, the visitors had Juan Manuel Torres red-carded for what appeared to be nothing more than a shoulder charge.
STUNNING FIGHTBACKS
Despite the setback, and the difficulties of playing at 2,800 metres above sea level, forward Gonzalo Bergessio equalised with a header from a corner three minutes after halftime.
San Lorenzo, in their centenary year, had been desperate to win the tournament for the first time and their campaign was marked by a series of stunning fightbacks.
In the group stage, they came back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Real Potosi at nearly 4,000 metres above sea level.
In the previous round, they also hit back from 2-0 down, this time with nine men, to draw 2-2 with River Plate and win 4-3 on aggregate. (Herald Tribune)
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