Santana's nightmare send-off as Flamengo go out

RIO DE JANEIRO, May 7 (Reuters) - South Africa's new coach Joel Santana had a nightmare farewell to Flamengo when his side blew a two-goal first-leg lead at home to America and were knocked out of the Libertadores Cup on Wednesday.

In other third-round, second-leg ties, defending champions Boca Juniors won 2-1 at Cruzeiro to complete a 4-2 aggregate victory and Adriano scored to set Sao Paulo on the way to a 2-0 win over Nacional which put them through.

America, beaten 4-2 in the first leg and under interim coach Juan Antonio Luna, contrived to win the return 3-0 at the Maracana to leave Santana wishing he had not agreed to extend his stay at Flamengo for an extra game.

Santana, who takes up his post with South Africa this month, had been due to sign off last Sunday when Flamengo beat Botafogo 3-1 to win the Carioca championship.

Instead, he agreed to see the team through what appeared to be a formality before handing over the reins at Brazil's most popular team to Caio Junior.

'I told them that the best tribute you can pay me is to qualify,' said Santana. 'It's difficult to explain a defeat like this. We lost to ourselves.'

Flamengo's problems began when Paraguay striker Salvador Cabanas lobbed the ball over Bruno in the 20th minute to put the Mexicans ahead.

Enrique Esqueda levelled the aggregate scores six minutes before halftime, although Flamengo were still leading on away goals.

Cabanas struck the final blow when he scored with a deflected free kick in the 78th minute.

Flamengo's fellow Brazilians Cruzeiro also went out at home after Boca struck twice in 10 minutes before halftime.

Rodrigo Palacio cut inside his marker and fired a 20-metre shot into the top corner and Martin Palermo added the second with a header. Wagner pulled one back for Cruzeiro in the 57th minute.

Sao Paulo, who drew 0-0 at Nacional last week, provided Brazil's only success of the evening at the Morumbi.

Adriano, on loan from Inter Milan, scored from close range in the 38th minute after two Nacional defenders failed to cut out Eder Luis's pass.

The Uruguayans had Pablo Caballero sent off for a second bookable offence at the start of the second half and Dagoberto added Sao Paulo's second in the 89th minute.