Cassierra nets late as Atletico Mineiro beats Juventud

RIO DE JANEIRO, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Mateo Cassierra struck in the 90th minute as Brazil's Atletico Mineiro edged to a 2-1 home win over Uruguayan side Juventud in the Copa Sudamericana group stage on Thursday.

Former Brazil international winger Bernard gave the hosts the lead just before halftime, running onto Tomas Cuello's long pass and finishing calmly past goalkeeper Sebastian Sosa.

The visitors equalized in the 55th minute through Facundo Perez, who pounced on a loose ball and slotted his shot into the far corner.

But Cassierra restored Atletico's lead by sending a glancing header into the far corner after Cuello's cross from the right wing.

In Brazil, Isidro Pitta scored twice as Bragantino secured a 3-2 home victory over Blooming in a match that saw both sides finish with 10 men.

Blooming's Roberto Hinojoza cancelled out Fernando's opener, and Moises Villarroel then put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot after Ignacio Sosa received a second yellow card for a bad challenge on Hinojoza.

The Bolivian team was also reduced to 10 men just after the hour when Diago Gimenez was cautioned for a second time for a reckless foul on Marcelinho Braz.

Pitta put the hosts on level terms with a 64th-minute header and he nodded in again in the 96th minute as Bragantino claimed its first win of the tournament.

Elsewhere in the Copa Sudamericana on Thursday, San Lorenzo won 2-0 at home to Deportivo Cuenca, and Macara prevailed 1-0 at Tigre. ■