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By Brian Homewood
RIO DE JANEIRO, May 9 (Reuters) - San Lorenzo, trailing 2-0 and down to nine men with half an hour left, produced an extraordinary fightback to draw 2-2 with River Plate and reach the Libertadores Cup quarter-finals on Thursday.
Santos completed the line-up for the last eight by winning 2-0 away to Cucuta, Colombia's last surviving team, for a 3-0 aggregate win.
Gonzalo Bergessio struck twice in four minutes to give San Lorenzo an improbable draw at fellow Argentines River and a 4-3 aggregate win on another night of drama in the South American equivalent of the Champions League.
Their performance followed an equally unlikely comeback by America on Wednesday when, needing a three-goal win away to Brazil's Flamengo at the Maracana, the Mexicans got the result they needed to qualify 5-4 on aggregate.
Matias Abelairas put River ahead after 12 minutes when his free kick eluded the San Lorenzo defence and bounced into the net.
San Lorenzo had Diego Rivero sent off for a second bookable offence after 43 minutes and their hopes appeared to have evaporated completely after an astonishing moment from defender Jonathan Bottinelli.
Having comfortably held off Radamel Falcao Garcia in his own penalty area and passed the ball back to goalkeeper Agustin Orion, Bottinelli then elbowed his opponent in the neck.
He was sent off and River were awarded a penalty, converted by Sebastian Abreu in the 62nd minute.
PETTY SKIRMISHES
Instead of taking control, River became involved in a series of petty skirmishes and lost concentration.
Bergessio pulled one back in the 69th minute, firing into the top corner from Diego Placente's pass, and equalised with a near post header from a corner four minutes later.
Needing two goals to qualify, River attacked frantically but missed a succession of chances while coach Diego Simeone, dressed in his trademark all-black outfit, ranted and gesticulated furiously on the touchline.
The hosts had Eduardo Tuzzio sent off in injury-time for a second yellow card.
"I'm the only one responsible for what is happening to the team," Simeone said at a news conference, where he refused to take questions.
Furious River fans jeered the players and pelted them with objects as they left the field.
Santos cruised to their win in Colombia, signalling their intentions when Kleber Pereira missed their first chance after 10 seconds.
After several other misses, Pele's former club finally went ahead when Pereira side-footed home from a rebound in the 41st minute. Lima finished off a counter-attack for their second goal early in the second half.
