Palmeiras takes the lead
Palmeiras first football team defeated their hosts Fluminense 2-1 in a purely Brazilian match during the first leg of the Copa Libertadores semi-finals on Thursday. Argentine striker Jose Manuel Lopez scored the first goal in the 45th minute, then Marlon Freitas added the second in the 85th minute, giving Palmeiras the lead at Maracana Stadium.
Fluminense's reaction
Fluminense dominated possession in the first half, but the visiting side took the lead after a swift counter-attack converted by Flavio Lopez. In the second half, this pattern continued as Fluminense initiated attacks but hit a solid defensive wall, with the best chances for the home side being long-range shots from veteran striker Hulk, Nonato, and Uruguayan Agustin Canobbio.
Match details
Fluminense's veteran goalkeeper Fabio saved a shot from substitute Felipe Anderson in the 81st minute, but failed to stop Freitas five minutes before the end of regular time. Substitute Natan reduced the deficit with a brilliant header in the third minute of stoppage time, restoring hope for Fluminense.
Next steps
Palmeiras will host the return leg next Thursday in Sao Paulo, with the winner advancing to the Copa Libertadores final, equivalent to the UEFA Champions League, scheduled for November 28 at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo. Meanwhile, Argentine Estudiantes de La Plata will host Brazilian champions Flamengo in the other semi-final first leg on Friday.
Portuguese dominance
Estudiantes aims to break the dominance of Brazilian football in South America's most important club competition, where Brazilian clubs have won the last seven editions since Argentine River Plate's victory in 2018.
Source: Arriyadiyah newspaper
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