Sao Paulo booked their spot in the Copa Libertadores semi-finals with a 2-2 aggregate win on away goals, despite losing 2-1 away to Atletico Mineiro in the second leg of Wednesday's quarter-final tie.
ADVERTISEMENT
Atletico Mineiro 2 Sao Paulo 1
Maicon scored the crucial away goal as he headed Sao Paulo into the Copa Libertadores semi-finals, at the expense of Atletico Mineiro.
___5051662___https:______static.pulse.com.gh___webservice___escenic___binary___5051662___2016___5___19___12___maicon-cropped_1i9vujm2jqla01owt5h3rmganu_2
Recommended articles
Brazilian defender Maicon scored the crucial away goal to cap off a hectic 15 minutes after his side fell 2-0 down in the opening stages in Belo Horizonte.
Sao Paolo took a 1-0 lead into the second leg, but that advantage was quickly cancelled as Juan Cazares gave Brazilian rivals Mineiro a second-leg lead after just seven minutes, levelling the tie in the process.
Mineiro right-back Marcos Rocha stormed down the right wing to unleash a difficult shot on goal but Denis could only parry the ball into the path of Cazares, who found the back of the net via the feet of the Sao Paulo goalkeeper.
ADVERTISEMENT
The hosts took an aggregate lead barely five minutes later when left-back Douglas Santos launched a cross from deep into the box, finding Carlos unmarked at the back post for a simple headed finish.
With Mineiro up and about, Sao Paulo looked like they would struggle to come back into the game but used their height and strength at set-pieces to find what proved to be the winning goal of the two-legged tie.
Kelvin launched a wonderful corner from the left, finding Maicon who rose highest to beat his two markers and the onrushing keeper Victor to nod home.
A tight and tense second half followed but neither side found the back of the net, Mineiro's Leandro Donizete sent off in stoppage time as Sao Paulo progressed to the final four.
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.com.gh
Recommended articles
The Intersection of Enthusiasm: United Kingdom's local motorsports and Ghana's rising stars
Video: Watch Fatawu Issahaku’s hat trick in Leicester City’s win against Southampton
RTU suspends coach Abdulai Mumin over match-fixing allegations
Hearts of Oak are better off playing with an empty post than using Richard Attah – Taylor
Sorry for causing you a lot of pain – Dr. Prosper Ogum apologizes to Kotoko fans
Govt hasn't paid us – African Games gold medalist Winnifred Ntumi 'cries' out
Dumsor is part of the reasons why we lost against Legon Cities – Hearts of Oak coach
Black Stars midfielder Daniel Kofi Kyereh to miss rest of season due to injury
