| Estudiantes draw 3-3 with Lanus |
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| Friday, 04 April 2008 | |
 BUENOS AIRES (AP) - Goalkeeper Mariano Andujar blocked a penalty and the ensuing shot off the rebound in extra time to preserve a 3-3 draw for Estudiantes against Lanus on Wednesday, keeping it atop Group 2 in the Copa Libertadores. Estudiantes rallied from a two-goal deficit to lead 3-2 but allowed a 78th-minute equalizer by Lautaro Acosta that cost it a chance to clinch a berth in the second round. Acosta, looking for the winner in extra time, raced into the penalty area and appeared to fall as he round Andujar. Referee Pablo Lunati called a foul and Jose Sand stepped up to take the penalty in the first minute of extra time. With Lanus fans thundering in the stands, Andujar dived to his left to block Sand's low, right-footed attempt, and then scrambled to recover in time to deflect Sand's follow-up effort over the bar with his hip. "It was a fast-changing match, but we were able to pick up the point we needed, which was the important thing," Andujar said. The result beforea crowd of 25,000 at Buenos Aires' Lanus stadium gave Estudiantes eight points, one ahead of Lanus and two ahead of Deportivo Cuenca of Ecuador. Danubio of Uruguay is last with four points. One one match remains for each, and only two will advance. Danubio next receives Lanus at home in Uruguay on April 15, while Estudiantes will play host to Deportivo Cuenca the same night. Estudiantes earned the draw despite playing much of the second half one man down after the expulsion of Agustin Alayes for rough play. Both finished with 10 men when Santiago Hoyos was sent off in the 85th for the same infraction. The match opened with Lanus taking a 1-0 lead off a left-footer by Sand in the 10th minute, followed by a second goal five minutes later by teammate Diego Valeri, who pounched on a loose ball in the area. Estudiantes equalifed on a header by Leandro Desabato in the 21st and a free kick by Leandro Benitez three minutes later, his ball sharply angling inside the post past Lanus goalkeeper Carlos Bossio. Estudiantes went ahead 3-2 in the 62nd minute with a goal by Ivan Moreno y Fabianese, a ground-searing left-footer. Acosta equalized with a powerful left-footer inside the area. |
