Sport Succumbs to Grêmio "B" at Olímpico

Can anyone beat Grêmio at Olímpico?

Playing without several starters, Grêmio's "B" team managed to edge out Sport 1-0 to extend its home winning streak to ten games. The Tricolor is 13-1-1 at home this year and has allowed just one goal in its last seven games at Olímpico. The result moved Grêmio (6 pts) into 7th place. Sport (3 pts) dropped into 13th after losing its second straight.

The game was decided early. In the 2nd minute, Adílson passed to Ramón at the top of the area. The midfielder’s shot was weak, but before Magrão could get to it, Du Lopes stuck out his leg and diverted it into his own net: Grêmio, 1-0. The quick score animated the team as the first half belonged to Grêmio. In the 19th, Tuta blew an incredible opportunity to add to the lead after missing a shot from inside the small area. He missed another later in the half as Grêmio was unable to cash in on its domination, a fact that would make the second half unnecessarily tense.

If the first half belonged to Grêmio, the second half was Sport’s. Giba’s halftime adjustments transformed the game as Grêmio was forced to fall back on defense. The loss of Adílson to a foot injury only complicated matters. Fortunately, Grêmio’s reserve backfield of Pereira and Schiavi held firm. The Tricolor’s best chances of the half came near the end of the game, when both Diego Souza and Tuta missed on opportunities in the closing minutes.

Although they did not play well, the partially reserve team commemorated the importance of the 3 points won. Now all focus will be on Santos. The Tricolor hosts the top-seeded Fish Wednesday in the first game of their Libertadores Cup semifinal series. Santos is undefeated in Libertadores Cup play and is trying to become the first top-seeded team to advance to the finals since the competition instituted a seeding system in 2005. Grêmio will count on its homefield advantage to build a comfortable lead for the second leg. Grêmio has won both its home playoff games by the same 2-0 score and has not allowed a single goal at Olímpico.

Grêmio (1)	Sport (0)
Du Lopes (2' OG)
Adílson (45') Pereira (76')
Venue:  Olímpico Stadium, Porto Alegre (RS)
Grêmio: Saja; Patrício, Schiavi, Pereira and Lúcio; Gavilán, Adílson (Nunes, 53'), Diego Souza and Amoroso (Éverton, 66') and Ramón (Kelly, 82'); Tuta. Coach: Mano Menezes	Sport: Magrão; Osmar, Du Lopes, Durval and Bruno; Ticão (Luciano Henrique, HT), Éverton, Fábio Gomes and Fumagalli; Welldon (Washington, HT) and Carlinhos Bala. Coach: Giba