How bad was that referee?

Clube Atlético Paranaense (BRA) 1 X 1 São Paulo Futebol Clube (BRA)

Copa Libertadores
All even as Paranaense, Sao Paulo head into final act
(FIFA.com) 07 Jul 2005

In the driving rain in Porto Alegre last night, Brazilian sides Atlético Paranaense and Sao Paulo played out a 1-1 draw in the opening leg of the Copa Libertadores Final. It was the first time in the competition's 46-year history that two clubs from the same country had met to decide the title.

Atlético Paranaense were forced to play their home leg at the Estadio Beira Mar in Porto Alegre, some 700 km south of Curitiba, as the competition rules state that venues for the final must hold at least 40,000. With the Furacao's Estadio Arena da Baixada having a considerably smaller capacity, the club had no choice but to make the long journey with their fans to the Rio Grande do Sul state capital.

Whether it was the unfamiliar surroundings or the freezing rain that fell most of the evening, the Rojinegros saw their hopes of taking a commanding lead back to Sao Paulo disappear after allowing their opponents to control the game for most of the 90 minutes.

Nonetheless, it was Atlético Paranaense who drew first blood when Aloisio opened the scoring on 14 minutes. Latching onto a right-sided cross from Jancarlos, the striker out jumped the defence on the edge of the six-yard box and powered a well-placed header to Rogerio Ceni's right for his fourth goal of the tournament (1-0, 14').

"Sao Paulo are a very tough proposition at the Morumbí, where their fans constantly drive them on. We need a win now, and that's what we'll be going for next week. We want it badly and we have the temperament to go there and get it," said Aloisio after the game.

However the challenge facing Antonio Lopes's side will be far from easy, given that the Pualistas have not lost a Libertadores tie on home soil since 1987, when Colo Colo of Chile came away with a 2-1 win. Since then, the Tricolores have played 28 Copa ties at the Morumbí and won an impressive 25 times.

"Sao Paulo haven't lost at home in the Libertadores for 18 years, which means we'll be trying to rewrite history in their stadium. As I see it, the return leg will be similar to tonight's game, a very even affair," said one of the game's outstanding figures, the Paranaense keeper Diego, as he left the dressing room afterwards.

With Cicinho, Josué, Danilo and Amoroso back together again, Paulo Autuori's side came back strongly and went in search of an equaliser that would set them up for the return leg. However, the game was ragged in midfield with Sao Paulo constantly looking to go on the offensive and Paranaense defending deep and hoping to hit them on the break.

The visitors' persistence was finally rewarded shortly after the interval. A poor clearance from the Atletico defence forced the goalkeeper Diego to make a one-handed save from a close-range header. Unfortunately for Paranaense, the ball then ricocheted off the defender Durval and finished up in the back of his own net (1-1, 50').

Although both Luizao and Amoroso had some gilt-edged chances to secure a win for Paulo Autuori's men, some inspired goalkeeping from the Furacao keeper Diego kept them at bay. Liima then had a glorious opportunity to shift the balance in Paranaense's favour right at the death but, with the goal at his mercy, he somehow managed to head inches wide of Rogerio Ceni's right-hand post. It was to be the last chance of the night and the match finished all square.

"The reason we didn't win tonight was because we were unable to convert the chances we created. I'm not satisfied leaving here as we deserved to win this game. However, we've done the hard part, which was to equalise against a tough side like Paranaense. Now, it's down to what we can do at the Morumbí in front of our fans," said Sao Paulo's Uruguayan defender Diego Lugano, the only non-Brazilian in this year's final.

With the tie still in the balance, the stage is set for a thrilling second leg next Thursday July 14. In one corner there is Sao Paulo, desperate for their third Libertadores crown after lifting the Copa in 1992 and 1993, while in the other there is Atlético Paranaense, who will have to rewrite history and beat the Paulistas in their own back yard to wear the continental crown for the first time. The only thing guaranteed is that a Brazilian side will have the final word.

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