Path to Semifinals Hits Major Hurdle
Underdogs Defensor Take 2-0 Lead into Porto Alegre

Grêmio fans, prepare for yet another showdown at Olímpico. The Tricolor lost 2-0 to underdogs Defensor in the first leg of their Libertadores Cup quarterfinal series and now must win by at least three goals in Porto Alegre in order to advance to the semifinals. A 2-0 Grêmio win would send the series to a penalty kick shootout. Any other result will end the dream of the “tri”.

Grêmio should have learned from Flamengo’s example that, despite being seeded 15th, Defensor is not a team to be taken likely. And the Tricolor was given a wakeup call early. Just 50 seconds into the game, De Souza crossed into the area from the right and Sorondo leaped up near the left post and headed the ball into the net: Defensor, 1-0.

The early goal shocked Grêmio. The Tricolor became nervous as the they feared a repeat of Flamengo’s 3-0 defeat here two weeks ago. Like in that game, Defensor was in a completely offensive posture. With three forwards, the Uruguayans constantly hassled the Tricolor defense. They were continually in the Grêmio area, even when Martín Silva was preparing to take a goal kick. Under these conditions, Grêmio should have found spaces in the midfield to work with. Unfortunately, they played perhaps their worst half of football of the entire season.

When it appeared that the score would remain 1-0 going into the half, Grêmio succumbed to another aerial attack. In the 43rd, in a play similar to the one that produced the first goal, Martínez received a cross from the left side and beat Saja with a well-placed header: Defensor, 2-0. Not the result Grêmio was hoping for. A minute later, González was ejected for a hard tackle on Carlos Eduardo. Soon after, Tcheco found William inside the area. The defender hit the left post, missing on Grêmio’s best opportunity to cut into the lead.

For the second half, Mano Menezes pulled Nunes in favor Amoroso, adding another forward. The move seemed to work as in the 4th minute Tcheco received a cross from Patrício but headed the ball into the hands of the keeper. But that was all Grêmio could muster despite having the numerical advantage. In the 17th, Saja had to leave his goal to challenge Peinado and save the Tricolor from a 3-0 hole.

The remainder of the game saw Grêmio trading passes but not threatening to score. Tuta and Carlos Eduardo were non-factors as they never received the ball. Mano Menezes tried to make adjustments to his team, but to no avail. The disaster culminated after the final whistle when Diego Souza went to argue with Chilean referee Rubén Selman and was red-carded. Now Mano will be without one of his better players for the return game.

Grêmio must now muster another miracle if it hopes to advance to the semifinals. The good news is that Defensor is vulnerable. Flamengo found itself in a similar situation, down 0-3 in the Round of 16, and managed to beat the Uruguayans 2-0 in Rio. Fortunately, Grêmio just needs two goals to force penalty kicks. But to do that, they’ll have to play much better than they just did in Montevideo.

Defensor (2)	Grêmio (0)
Sorondo (1') Martínez (43')
González (5') Diego de Souza (17') González (37') Fernandez (85') Martín Silva (86')	Teco (5') Tcheco (45') Everton (78') Diego Souza (PG)
Venue:  Centenário Stadium, Montevideo (URU)
Defensor: Martín Silva; Cáceres, Sorondo and Martínez; González, Pereira, Fadeuille and Diego de Souza (Diaz, 76'); Mauro Vila (Fernandez, 65'), Peinado and Morales (Amado, 44'). Coach: Jorge da Silva	Grêmio: Saja; Patrício, William, Teco and Lúcio; Nunes (Amoroso, HT), Gavilán, Diego Souza and Tcheco; Carlos Eduardo (Éverton, 75') and Tuta (Ramón, 82'). Coach: Mano Menezes