Grêmio Reaches Finals By the Seat of Their Pants
Tricolor Routed by Santos but Advances by Virtue of Away Goal

Grêmio is in the 2007 Libertadores Cup finals – barely. After taking an early lead, Grêmio survived a furious Santos comeback as the top-seeded Fish dominated the remainder of the game and rallied for a 3-1 win but fell one goal short of the needed four. The series ended in a 3-3 tie, but Grêmio advanced due to its having scored an away goal. The Tricolor, in the finals for the first time since 1995, will now await the winner of the Boca Juniors – Cúcuta series. The Colombians lead 3-1 from the first leg in Cúcuta.

As expected, Santos came out with guns blazing. Led by World Cup star Zé Roberto, the Fish kept Grêmio pinned on its own side of the field. In the 7th, Renatinho had an excellent opportunity for an early goal after receiving a pass just inside the right side of the area. Saja, however, managed a terrific save. Thus was the pace of the game, with Santos attacking and Grêmio defending. That was until the 24th, when the Tricolor managed its first shot on goal. After receiving a cross from Patrício, Diego Souza passed to Carlos Eduardo on the left side. After trapping the ball, the young prodigy found his teammate open at the top of the area and passed the ball back. Diego Souza then rifled a shot past Fábio Costa and into the net: Grêmio, 1-0.

It was everything Grêmio could have hoped for. Not only did it give the Tricolor a 3-0 aggregate lead, but the away goal made it so Santos would now need four goals in order to advance. And as halftime approached with the score still 1-0, it appeared that that would not be a possibility. But, after having a goal called back in the 42nd for offsides, Renatinho tied the game in the 47th after receiving a wide open cross just outside the small area: 1-1. A huge morale boost for Santos, who now had 45 minutes and the momentum to go after the remaining three goals it needed.

From the opening whistle, the second half belonged to Santos. Without Carlos Eduardo, who left the game in the 28th following a sprained ankle, the Tricolor offense lacked any speed and creativity. The game became completely one-sided as Santos attacked and Grêmio defended. In the 15th, Saja and William got tangled up in trying to clear a cross from the right side, leaving Renatinho with a clear shot on goal from inside the area: Santos, 2-1. Only two goals to go as the sold out Vila Belmiro believed ever more that Santos would pull off the comeback.

The third goal materialized in the 32nd when Zé Roberto rifled in a shot from the top of the area after recovering a poor clearance by the defense: Santos, 3-1. Thirteen minutes remained with only one goal to go. With all the momentum on its side, Santos’ qualification seemed a certainty.

But then Grêmio did what it does best in times of adversity. With its back against the wall, the Tricolor bunked down and played the most intense thirteen minutes of the season. Santos never got another shot as the Grêmio defenders exhibited that famous Gaúcho fighting spirit. As the game approached its end, the Santos fans who moments earlier were certain of advancing were now beginning to panic. Ever the superstitious, Pelé left the stadium just before injury time hoping his absence would result in the needed goal. It did not. The final whistle blew and Santos was eliminated. The Fish received a standing ovation from its fans for its valiant effort, but it was the small band of gremistas that were truly celebrating. Grêmio, someway, somehow, had survived.

Grêmio will now await the winner between Boca Juniors and Cúcuta. The two face off tomorrow in Buenos Aires with the Colombians leading 3-1. Regardless of the winner, Grêmio will host the second leg of the finals in Porto Alegre.

Soy loco por Tri . . .

Santos (3)	Grêmio (1)
Renatinho (48+') Renatinho (61') Zé Roberto (77')	Diego Souza (24')
Marcos Aurélio (36') Cléber Santana (57')	Schiavi (28') Sandro Goiano (44') Saja (90')
Venue:  Vila Belmiro Stadium, Santos (SP)
Santos: Fábio Costa; Alessandro (Rodrigo Tabata, 60'), Adaílton, Domingos and Kléber; Rodrigo Souto, Pedrinho (Moraes, 55'), Cléber Santana (Moraes, 64') and Zé Roberto; Renatinho (Jonas) and Marcos Aurélio. Coach: Wanderley Luxemburgo	Grêmio: Saja; Patrício, Teco, William and Lúcio; Sandro Goiano, Gavilán, Diego Souza and Tcheco (Edmílson, 81'); Carlos Eduardo (Ramón, 28') and Douglas (Lucas, 64'). Coach: Mano Menezes