São Paulo advance to Libertadores final


Written by: Stephen Sharp Bookmark and Share
2006-08-03 04:46:34

Copa Toyota Libertadores
  Copa Toyota Libertadores
SÃO PAULO, Aug 3 (SW) - São Paulo are in the Copa Libertadores final for the second straight year after crushing Mexican side Chivas 3-0 at Estádio Morumbi and 4-0 on aggregate.

São Paulo absolutely dominated a nervous Chivas side and on 11 minutes got the first good scoring chance of the game when Danilo crossed into the middle, but Leandro's shot just narrowly deflected wide of the post.

However, Chivas nearly took the lead twice when Sérgio Santana forced a one-handed save out of Rogério Ceni and Adolfo Bautista fired high with no one near him after being played through by Santana.

Defender Fabão conceded a penalty in the 28th minute when he jumped on the back of Bautista while heading away a free kick.

Ramón Morales stepped up to the spot for Chivas with an attempt to level the tie, but Rogério Ceni was up to the task and made the save to his left.

Chivas were made to rue their profligacy in the 33rd minute when Ricardo Oliveira played a one-two with fellow striker Leandro, drawing all the defenders to him before slotting it through for Leandro to tuck into an open net.

Oliveira set up São Paulo's second six minutes later when he chested down the ball in the area and left it at the top for Brazil midfielder Mineiro who struck a bullet into the top corner.

Chivas attempted to regroup at the break, but the second half started as bad as the first ended when Ricardo Oliveira headed home a goal to make it 3-0 in the 49th minute off of a cross by Souza.

São Paulo then allowed Chivas to have possession, but it didn't seem to matter as the wheels came completely off on 74 minutes when Héctor Reynoso was sent off for raising his knee while going into an aerial challenge.

The first leg of the final, against either Internacional or Libertad, will be on 9 August with the return leg a week later.




Discuss

No comments yet.