It was more apprehended than the Sao Paulo fan imagined, but the tricolor team confirmed on Wednesday (19) the place in the quarterfinals of Libertadores. At Morumbi, after drawing 1-1 in normal time, the team needed penalties to overcome Atletico Nacional (Col) 4-3 and advance.
The mood was reliable before the ball rolled. The 0-0 in the first leg in Medellin had left the classification open, but also brought a breath to the São Paulo: the Colombian rival wasted two penalties and even hit the post twice.
Playing in front of more than 50,000 fans in Morumbi, São Paulo entered the field with a very different posture from apathetic performance on Colombian soil.
The beginning was devastating. Even before the first minute, Cedric and Rodriguinho tabled inside the area and almost opened the scoring. Shortly thereafter, in the corner kick, Alan Franco deflected in the first post, and André Silva completed for the nets: 1-0. The advantage so soon seemed to indicate a quiet night.
São Paulo managed the inauguration and sought spaces to expand. Despite the offensive volume, it lacked whim in the definition of the plays. Nacional, cornered, produced little and only gave Rafael work at the end of the first half, at 38 minutes, when Moreos risked from outside the area and forced the goalkeeper to stretch in the left corner.
On the way back, the panorama changed. The National began to control the ball more. The effort was rewarded in 24 minutes: Moreos converted a penalty and tied the game. The reaction of the visitors, however, was short lived. At the celebration of the goal, Cardona fell out with Ferraresi, received the second yellow card and was expelled, leaving the Colombians with one less on the field.
With numerical superiority, Sao Paulo re -pressed. Despite creating good chances, he sinned at the aim. The seizure took over the stadium when the final whistle confirmed that the vacancy would be decided on penalties.
In the penalties, Rafael took the first charge and had a Hinestroza mistake to classify São Paulo.
