Bolivar players pleaded for mercy, says Santos striker

Rio de Janeiro, May 12 (IANS) Bolivar players pleaded with their Santos opponents to show mercy during the Brazilian club's 8-0 Copa Libertadores victory.

According to Santos striker Alan Kardec, the request came when the players returned to the pitch after leading 5-0 at half-time at the Vila Belmiro stadium Thursday.

"They told us, 'Please, you are already hammering us'," Kardec was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

"They asked us to take it easy and take the foot off the pedal because we were already winning easily."

Kardec revealed the team was particularly motivated for the match after being pelted with fruits and stones during their quarter-final first leg in La Paz last month.

Thursday's result equals the club's record eight-goal winning margin set during the 1962 tournament when it defeated Paraguay's Cerro Porteno 9-1