Late goal gives Gimnasia Libertadores win over Deportivo

RIO DE JANEIRO, Mar 7 (Reuters) Argentina's Gimnasia-La Plata picked up their first points in the Libertadores Cup after scoring a late goal to beat newcomers Deportivo Pasto 3-2.

Both teams led in the Group Eight game before Antonio Pierguidi settled it, pouncing on hesitant defending by the Colombian visitors in the 87th minute yesterday.

Gimnasia goalkeeper Carlos Kletnicki hoofed a clearance quickly upfield and when Pasto keeper Carlos Barahona failed to clear in his own penalty area Pierguidi was left to score into an empty net.

Both teams had lost their opening matches but it was Pasto, a little-known club taking part in the competition for the first time, who went ahead, Carlos Rodas heading in from close range in the 11th minute for their first Libertadores goal.

Rodas also fired wide on the break and had another effort headed off the line with Kletnicki beaten before the break.

In between, Uruguayan striker Sergio Leal levelled for Gimnasia, flicking the ball over Barahona as the Pasto defence again failed to deal with a long ball upfield.

Leal's compatriot Antonio Pacheco rifled Gimnasia into the lead five minutes after the re-start but Pasto levelled with another long-range effort as substitute Luis Valencia beat Kletnicki with a swerving shot in the 71st minute.

There was a final twist after Pierguidi's goal as Valencia hit the post from a free kick.

Santos of Brazil lead the group with six points while Gimnasia are level on three with Uruguay's Defensor Sporting.

Paraguayan champions Libertad, who thrashed America 4-1 away in Mexico last week, continued their impressive run in Group One by holding Ecuadorean champions El Nacional 1-1 in Quito.

El Nacional, who picked up their first point, went ahead through Walter Calderon in the 68th minute but Rodrigo Lopez backheeled the equaliser from close range with 10 minutes to play after mis-kicking his first attempt.

The Ecuadorean army club picked up their third red card in as many games when Pavel Caicedo was dismissed a minute later.

Libertad, semi-finalists last year, lead with seven points ahead of Banfield of Argentina and America, who have three apiece.

Reuters SY DB0930