Internacional outwitted the reigning champions.
At the Beira-Rio stadium in Porto Alegre on Thursday night, Internacional defeated Estudiantes de La Plata 1-0 in the first leg of their Copa Libertadores quarterfinal matchup thanks to a header from Uruguayan center-back Gonzalo Sorondo. The largest club competition in South America’s semifinals is just one draw away for the Brazilians.
The defending Libertadores winners Estudiantes came to Brazil hoping for a draw, and the Argentines appeared to have done enough to get it until they let up a surprise late goal.
It was a closely contested game between two elite teams that balanced each other out in the middle of the field.
The captain of Estudiantes, Juan Sebastian Veron, directed his team’s most effective offensive plays, with striker Mauro Boselli seeming incredibly threatening each time he entered the Internacional zone.
Midway through the second half, Taison entered the game, giving Inter’s assault a new dimension, although it still appeared like the game would conclude scoreless.
However, Sorondo headed in an Andrezinho free-kick in the 88th minute to give Internacional a 1-0 victory that was welcomed by the 40,000 spectators.
With a tie in Buenos Aires the following week, Internacional would go to the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals, where they will play either Cruzeiro or Sao Paulo. Even a narrow defeat may do it.
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