Copa Libertadores Wrap: Controversey as Emelec edge Flu

A late penalty has handed Emelec a 2-1 victory over Fluminense in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores round of 16.

Fluminense players were furious at referee Wilmar Roldan after the final whistle following the Colombian official’s decision to point to the spot in the 87th minute.

With the score at 1-1, Roldan adjudged that Fluminense central defender Leandro Euzebio had brought down Emelec’s Argentine striker Marcos Mondaini in the box and Fernando Gaibor stepped up to score from the penalty spot.

Euzebio had a horror game for Fluminense, handing Emelec the lead in the 33rd minute after he put the ball into his own net, but the Brazilian visitors were level just before half-time thanks to a goal from Wagner.

Gaibor’s goal clinched the game for Ecuador’s Emelec, who will head to Brazil next week with the advantage.

In the other Copa Libertadores match on Thursday, Atletico Mineiro came from behind to win their all-Brazilian clash with Sao Paulo 2-1.

Jadson opened the scoring for Sao Paulo in front of their home fans in the ninth minute with a curling shot into the bottom corner of the net after being teed up by Ganso.

But Atletico equalised three minutes before half-time when Ronaldinho headed Bernard’s corner home at the back post, while Diego Tardelli struck the winner for the visitors in the 59th minute after being played in behind Sao Paulo’s defence by Marcos Rocha.