Porto Alegre -
Gremio won 1-0 against Lanus this Wednesday in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores 2017 final played at the Arena do Gremio stadium, and will travel with an advantage to the decision next week in Buenos Aires, where they can lift their third Copa in history.
In a tense and unfluid match for the locals, Lanus knew how to contain the initial impulse of the gauchos and could have taken the lead in the first half if it weren't for the great performance of Brazilian goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe.
But Gremio returned more focused after halftime and found reward thanks to Cicero's goal in the 82nd minute, which brought ecstasy to the more than 55,000 fans who filled the Arena.
They had been waiting for this night for a decade, and they were not going to be left behind. With their gala stadium, and the legend of that determined team that conquered America and the world in the last century screaming from the bench, the 'Immortal Tricolor' went out to devour the final.
Granate Wall
By the time the 'tricolor' noticed, their momentum had been dulled after colliding against Lanus' rocky defense, which already annoyed everyone after half an hour of play. Unable to flow through the wings, Gremio banged their heads against the center of the Argentinians, who got better with each passing minute.
So much that they even decided to come out of their cave and pay a visit to Grohe in the 33rd minute, which could have been the 1-0 if it weren't for the skilled goalkeeper's blessed gloves.
With the same firmness that already impressed the continent with his spectacular save in the first leg of the semifinals against Barcelona SC, Grohe now stopped a dangerous angled shot from Martinez, which was on its way to crush the 'tricolor' spirit.
Just one attack was enough for Lanus to make their fans tremble, defenseless without the flashes of their star Luan, who remained invisible throughout the match.
But this third Copa had already decided ten years ago that if it came, it would come suffering, and another scare would come in the 39th minute, with Grohe saving a venomous header from Braghieri after a corner.
Now Porto Alegre's pulse stopped, which would only recover its breath when, taking advantage of another mishap by Andrade during a goal kick, Arthur collected a loose ball. He didn't manage to seriously threaten with his long shot, but it served as a reminder to everyone that this Gremio could also be fearsome.
Second Half
That's what a desperate Renato reminded his players during halftime. Gremio had to roar again, and urgently, or a Lanus that didn't understand stage fright was going to leave Porto Alegre with half of the Copa.
Calmer, the gauchos regained control and possession, although conviction was going in a different direction. Cortez tried in the 58th minute with a powerful long shot, but luck was going to make the tricolores wait a little longer.
The Brazilians kept trying, but with their marksmen Luan and Barrios neutralized, Lanus didn't suffer thanks to their great solidity and magnificent plans for Buenos Aires.
Jailson flew with a dangerous header in the 62nd minute, but the gauchos' prayers would only be answered 20 minutes later, when Cicero appeared in a sprint to beat Andrada with his first touch, after a great cross from Jael.
That turned the match and the history around, the unexpected midfielder in the face of an Arena that was on the verge of ecstasy, and with it, the Copa of the 'tricampeonato'. Ecuadorian midfielder Michael Arroyo didn't even appear among the substitutes of the gauchos' squad.
The Chilean referee Julio Bascuñán was reproached by Gremio players after the final whistle due to his disputed refereeing, especially for a set-piece action in injury time (90+5m) that the locals claimed as a penalty.
The second leg will be played on Wednesday, November 29th at the complicated Fortaleza de Lanus in Buenos Aires.
Lineups:
Gremio: Marcelo Grohe; Edílson, Pedro Geromel, Kannemann, Bruno Cortez; Jaílson (Cícero, 71m), Arthur, Ramiro, Luan, Fernandinho (Everton, 56m); Lucas Barrios (Jael, 74m). Coach: Renato Gaúcho.
Lanus: Esteban Andrada; José Gómez, Rolando García, Diego Braghieri, Maximiliano Velázquez (Aguirre, 79m); Iván Marcone, Nicolás Pasquini, Román Martínez; Alejandro Silva, José Sand, Lautaro Acosta. Coach: Jorge Almirón.
Referee: Julio Bascuñán (Chile). Booked: Kannemann (40m), Jaílson (43m), Cícero (74m), from Gremio; Lautaro Acosta (23m), Rolando García (41m), Maxi Velázquez (76m), Braghieri (45+4m).
Stadium: Arena do Gremio.
Attendance: 55,100 spectators. (D)