Sao Paulo has advanced to Copa Libertadores semifinals with Hernanes and Dagoberto scoring goals in a 2-0 victory at home over fellow Brazilian club Cruzeiro.
Cruzeiro - last year's losing finalist - had Kleber sent off in the second minute Wednesday to complicate its chances of overturning the 2-0 loss at home in the first leg.
The 4-0 aggregate victory put Sao Paulo into the semis alongside Chivas of Mexico. In the remaining quarterfinals on Thursday, Universidad de Chile takes a 3-2 lead into its home match against Brazil's Flamengo, while defending champion Estudiantes of Argentina tries to overturn a 1-0 deficit when hosting another Brazilian club, Internacional.
Chivas advanced 3-2 on aggregate despite losing 2-0 at Paraguay's Libertad on Tuesday. Chivas had won the first leg in Mexico 3-0.
Kleber was sent off for Cruzeiro after pushing Sao Paulo's Richarlyson in the face as the pair contested possession inside Sao Paulo's half. Kleber was in possession at the time and replays suggested the straight red card was a harsh decision by referee Jorge Larrionda.
Sao Paulo took the lead in the 24th minute when Junior Cesar squeezed past two defenders on the left wing and passed for Hernanes to fire in at the near post.
Dagoberto added the second goal after racing on to Fernandao's header and lifting over goalkeeper Fabio in the 53rd.
Sao Paulo has won the Copa Libertadores three times, the last time being in 2005.
The Copa Libertadores is the premier club competition in Latin
America. The tournament takes a break after the quarterfinals to
make way for the World Cup, with the semifinals and final scheduled
for July and August.
