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Sao Paulo draws Atletico 1-1 at first leg of Libertadores Cup final
Sao Paulo needed a second-half own goal to earn a 1-1 tie with Atletico Paranaense in the first leg of the all-Brazilian Copa Libertadores final on Wednesday.
Sao Paulo players celebrate their
team's equalizer against Atletico Paranaense. The match marked the first time
that two teams from the same nation competed for the final. [AP] Sao Paulo can win its third title in Latin America's most prestigious competition with a win in next week's second leg in front of its fans at Morumbi stadium.
"We played better and deserved to come out with the win," Sao Paulo goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni said. "Hopefully we will take advantage of the support of our fans in the second leg." Striker Aloisio put Atletico on the board with a header from about seven yards in the 14th minute. He outjumped a defender near the penalty spot and headed the ball into the left corner of the net after a right-flank cross from defender Jancarlos. Aloisio, who has four goals in Libertadores, was a last-minute addition to Atletico's lineup. He had been listed as doubtful until moments before the match because of a muscle injury. Sao Paulo equalized with an own goal by Atletico defender Durval in the 52nd. Goalkeeper Diego made a nice save after a close-range header, but the ball found the back of the net after ricocheting off Durval. "Their goal was an accident, we were very unfortunate in the play," Atletico coach Antonio Lopes said. "But the result wasn't all that bad, we still have a chance to win at Morumbi to grab the title." It was the first encounter match teams from the same country in the finals of the Libertadores since the tournament began in 1960. The match was played in Porto Alegre - some 340 miles south of Atletico's hometown of Curitiba - because the South American Soccer Confederation, or Conmebol, ruled the team's Kyocera Arena too small for a Copa Libertadores final.
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