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By Brian Homewood
RIO DE JANEIRO, May 23 (Reuters) - 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.
In the day's other match, Mexico's America completed the semi-finals line-up, advancing 2-1 on aggregate against Pele's former club Santos despite losing their second leg 1-0.
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.
Santos, with Pele in attendance at the Vila Belmiro, attacked incessantly against their Mexican opponents but were unable to score the two goals needed to take their tie to penalties.
Their only reward came in the 63rd minute when Michael Jackson Quinonez crossed to the far post and Kleber Pereira got away from his marker to score with a looping header against his former club.
The Brazilians were left to rue a goal which they had controversially disallowed in the last minute of the first leg.
America's win left one team from each of Mexico, Ecuador, Brazil and Argentina in the competition after Fluminense and defending champions Boca Juniors qualified on Wednesday.
