Gremio beat Lanus to claim third Copa Libertadores crown
0
BUENOS AIRES: Brazilian side Gremio won the prestigious Copa Libertadores for the third time in their history after a 2-1 win over Argentina’s Lanus in La Fortaleza stadium on Wednesday night gave them a 3-1 aggregate triumph.
Gremio arrived in Argentina off a 1-0 win in the first leg of the final in Porto Alegre, and bolstered their advantage with first-half goals from midfielders Fernandinho and Luan.
Fernandinho put the visitors 1-0 up after 26 minutes when he stole possession in his own half before running 40 yards and hammering the ball home from just inside the penalty box.
Luan doubled their lead four minutes before half time when he drifted past three defenders on the edge of the box and lifted a delightful chip over the helpless keeper.
Jose Sand pulled one back for Lanus from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute. But his tournament-leading ninth goal ultimately made no difference. Nor did the sending-off of Gremio’s Ramiro in the 83rd minute as Lanus were denied a first Libertadores Cup title.
Gremio also lifted the continental trophy in 1983 and 1995 and the win was a personal triumph for coach Renato Gaucho, who won the title with the club in 1983 and became the first Brazilian to lift the trophy as both a player and manager.
“It’s a wonderful moment, the players are real warriors,” a tearful Renato Gaucho said. “I have no words to describe this, we deserved it so much.”
Tens of thousands of fans took to the streets of Porto Alegre in the celebrations. Despite their defeat, Lanus fans applauded the modest team while Gremio players celebrated.
“We are going to end the world in the celebrations,” said Luan, who scored eight goals in the Copa Libertadores and was named the tournament’s Best Player.
With the victory, Gremio qualified directly into the semi-finals of the Club World Cup in December, where they’ll face either Africa’s Wydad Casablanca or CONCACAF representative Pachuca of Mexico.
“We are going to celebrate until Saturday, Sunday,” goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe said in a televised interview in front of thousands of ecstatic visiting fans. “This is exciting, this is what these supporters deserve.”
Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2017
