Atletico Mineiro overturned a 2-0 first-leg deficit on Wednesday to defeat Newell’s Old Boys on penalties to reach the Copa Libertadores final, where it will play Paraguayan giant Olimpia inanother two-leg series. The first leg of the final series will be played in Asuncion next Wednesday with the return leg in Belo Horizonte the following week.
Goals fromBernard and Guilherme evened the score on aggregate at 2-2, bringing the series to overtime and eventually penalties. Ronaldinho sliced theNewell’s defense open with a superb through ball that was duly dispatched by Bernard in the third minute. However, as Newell’s settled into the game, a second goal for Mineiro lookedunlikely until substitute Guilherme met Diego Mateo’s weak clearance with a powerful right-footed strike from 20 yards five minutes into stoppage time in the secondhalf.
Atletico goalkeeper Victor was the hero during the shootout, saving Maxi Rodriguez’s effort with the score tied 2-2 after four kickerseach. Victor thanked Atletico’s backroom staff for helping him analyze Newell’s shootout win against Boca Juniors in the quarterfinal. “I watched those shots against Boca and I have tothank the data staff who gave me the necessary information,” he said, adding: “We’ve become stronger as the campaign went on. We are stronger because of what we’ve done so far this year. We’ve playeda great Copa Libertadores this year. We are focused on the final.”