Brazilian giants Flamengo and Internacional progress to the group stage of the Copa Libertadores after winning hard-fought match-ups on Wednesday.
Flamengo, Brazil's most popular club with an estimated 36 million followers, booked their tickets to the group stage of the Copa Libertadores after defeating Real Potosi of Bolivia 2-0 in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday.
Ronaldinho was key to Flamengo's success, as after setting up their opener, he went on to seal their passage into the next round with a superb late goal.
Fellow Brazilians Internacional also progressed to the group stage, after fighting out a 2-2 draw with Once Caldas in Manizales.
Inspired by Argentine playmaker Andres D'Alessandro, Internacional proved their superiority in the only tie of the preliminary round which involved two former Copa Libertadores winners.
Ronaldinho put on a memorable performance to lead Flamengo into the group stage of the competition, after a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Real Potosi at the Engenhao stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday.
Leonardo Moura put the Brazilians ahead in the 39th minute when he headed home a brilliantly-executed right-sided free-kick from Ronaldinho.
Real Potosi, who beat Flamengo 2-1 in Bolivia last week, just needed to score a single goal to progress, but although they created a couple of decent opportunities to do this, they failed to take advantage of them.
In second half stoppage-time Ronaldinho sealed Flamengo of passage into the group stage with a superb individual goal.
The two-time World Player of the Year did well to bring down a high ball on the edge of the area, before nutmegging a defender, and slotting the ball home with precision.
Flamengo will take part in Group 2 of the Copa Libertadores, along with Emelec of Ecuador, Lanus of Argentina and Olimpia of Paraguay. The only time Flamengo won the competition was way back in 1981.
Internacional of Porto Alegre advanced to the group stage of the competition after fighting out a 2-2 draw with Once Caldas at the Palogrande stadium in Manizales on Wednesday.
Having won the Copa Libertadores in 2006 and 2010, Inter secured their spot in Group 1, where they will face fellow Brazilians and defending champions Santos, Juan Aurich of Peru and The Strongest of Bolivia, after winning 3-2 on aggregate over the two legs.
But they couldn't have imagined a worse start, as one minute into the match Nei impeded Guillermo Beltran in the area for a penalty kick. Jorge Nunez stepped up to the spot and made no mistake to fire the Colombians ahead.
However, ten minutes later Inter were awarded a penalty of their own when Mauricio Casierra fouled Oscar in the area. Argentine playmaker Andres D'Alessandro kept his composure to slot the ball past Once Caldas goalkeeper Luis Martinez to draw the visitors level.
D'Alessandro turned from scorer to provider, when in the 22nd minute he set-up midfielder Tinga, who put the Brazilians ahead.
But their joy was short-lived, as three minutes later Mario Gonzalez equalised for the locals, with a powerful finish.
Once Caldas knew that they had to score twice in the second half to advance to the next phase, but although they created several opportunities to find the back of the net they couldn't find a way past Inter goalkeeper Muriel.
Ronaldinho was key to Flamengo's success, as after setting up their opener, he went on to seal their passage into the next round with a superb late goal.
Fellow Brazilians Internacional also progressed to the group stage, after fighting out a 2-2 draw with Once Caldas in Manizales.
Inspired by Argentine playmaker Andres D'Alessandro, Internacional proved their superiority in the only tie of the preliminary round which involved two former Copa Libertadores winners.
Ronaldinho put on a memorable performance to lead Flamengo into the group stage of the competition, after a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Real Potosi at the Engenhao stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday.
Leonardo Moura put the Brazilians ahead in the 39th minute when he headed home a brilliantly-executed right-sided free-kick from Ronaldinho.
Real Potosi, who beat Flamengo 2-1 in Bolivia last week, just needed to score a single goal to progress, but although they created a couple of decent opportunities to do this, they failed to take advantage of them.
In second half stoppage-time Ronaldinho sealed Flamengo of passage into the group stage with a superb individual goal.
The two-time World Player of the Year did well to bring down a high ball on the edge of the area, before nutmegging a defender, and slotting the ball home with precision.
Flamengo will take part in Group 2 of the Copa Libertadores, along with Emelec of Ecuador, Lanus of Argentina and Olimpia of Paraguay. The only time Flamengo won the competition was way back in 1981.
Internacional of Porto Alegre advanced to the group stage of the competition after fighting out a 2-2 draw with Once Caldas at the Palogrande stadium in Manizales on Wednesday.
Having won the Copa Libertadores in 2006 and 2010, Inter secured their spot in Group 1, where they will face fellow Brazilians and defending champions Santos, Juan Aurich of Peru and The Strongest of Bolivia, after winning 3-2 on aggregate over the two legs.
But they couldn't have imagined a worse start, as one minute into the match Nei impeded Guillermo Beltran in the area for a penalty kick. Jorge Nunez stepped up to the spot and made no mistake to fire the Colombians ahead.
However, ten minutes later Inter were awarded a penalty of their own when Mauricio Casierra fouled Oscar in the area. Argentine playmaker Andres D'Alessandro kept his composure to slot the ball past Once Caldas goalkeeper Luis Martinez to draw the visitors level.
D'Alessandro turned from scorer to provider, when in the 22nd minute he set-up midfielder Tinga, who put the Brazilians ahead.
But their joy was short-lived, as three minutes later Mario Gonzalez equalised for the locals, with a powerful finish.
Once Caldas knew that they had to score twice in the second half to advance to the next phase, but although they created several opportunities to find the back of the net they couldn't find a way past Inter goalkeeper Muriel.
