Soccer-River out of Copa Sudamericana as miserable run continues

By Brian Homewood

BUENOS AIRES, Nov 6 (Reuters) - River Plate's miserable run continued on Thursday when the Argentine champions squandered a 2-0 lead against Guadalajara and were knocked out of the Copa Sudamericana.

The Mexicans fought back to draw the quarter-final second leg tie 2-2 at home at the Jalisco stadium and qualify 4-3 on aggregate.

The match was seen as crucial for the future of River coach Diego Simeone, whose side are bottom of the Argentine championship.

Simeone, with his right hand still in a cast after he pounded the team bench in frustration following a game two weeks ago, was sent off for dissent in the 84th minute.

River looked set for a change of fortune when Gustavo Cabral and Radamel Falcao Garcia put them 2-0 ahead after only 20 minutes.

They could have had a third as Sebastian Abreu headed against the post early in the second half.

Guadalajara hit back when Fabian de la Mora and then Alberto Medina scored with breakaway goals in a five-minute spell.

Rodrigo Archubi and Garcia both came close to snatching a winner for River.