Belo Horizonte gave Atlético Mineiro a commanding Copa Sudamericana semi-final platform on Wednesday, with Eduardo Domínguez’s side beating Montevideo City Torque 3-0 at Arena MRV.
Reinier and Bernard struck before the interval after Mineiro had already seen two efforts ruled out for offside. Thiago Borbas added the third in the 79th minute, leaving the Brazilian club close to the November 21 final in Barranquilla, Colombia.
Quick facts
- First leg: Atlético Mineiro 3-0 Montevideo City Torque
- Goals: Reinier 37, Bernard 42, Thiago Borbas 79
- Second leg: next Wednesday at Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
- Mineiro can progress with a draw or a defeat by fewer than three goals
- Attendance at Arena MRV: 38,020
Mineiro will miss the season’s deciding match only if they suffer a heavy reverse in Uruguay. Torque, appearing in a continental semi-final for the first time and one of the competition’s unexpected stories, require a victory by more than three goals to reach Barranquilla.
Marcelo Méndez’s team will take confidence from its home record in this Sudamericana campaign: seven victories and one draw. Yet the first meeting showed the scale of the task awaiting them in Montevideo.
Without international midfielder Fred, Mineiro nonetheless imposed themselves from the opening moments. Torque set up with five defenders and Salomón Rodríguez largely alone up front, offering little attacking threat in Belo Horizonte.
Renan Lodi and Lyanco both had goals disallowed for offside as the hosts moved the ball sharply through the opening half. Torque’s clearest first-half chance came when Rodríguez headed towards goal, forcing Gabriel Delfim into a notable save.
The breakthrough arrived in the 37th minute. Tomás Cuello helped create the move, Victor Hugo supplied the final pass, and Reinier finished from inside the area.
Five minutes later, Reinier began a counterattack that ended with Bernard doubling the home advantage. Mineiro continued to press after the restart, with Colombian midfielder Kevin Castaño involved in several early attacks, before choosing to manage the tempo.
Torque had more of the ball as the match settled, but struggled to turn possession into clear chances. Mineiro became still more measured after Reinier and Bernard were substituted, although that did not prevent a final blow on the counter.
Borbas, on for Victor Hugo, struck from close range in the 79th minute to complete the 3-0 result. Domínguez’s starting side featured Delfim; Alan Franco, Lyanco, Vitão and Renan Lodi; Castaño, Maycon and Victor Hugo; Bernard, Cuello and Reinier.
Torque started Franco Torgnascioli in goal behind Gary Kagelmacher, Eduardo Agüero, Kevin Silva, Braian Lautaro Gutiérrez and Facundo Silvera. Franco Pizzichillo, Pablo Siles, Gonzalo Montes and Esteban Obregón supported Rodríguez.
Colombian referee Carlos Betancur booked Siles, Vitão and Luka Andrade, assisted by Alexander Guzmán and Jhon Gallego. In the other semi-final, Vasco da Gama carry a 1-0 lead after winning away to Boca Juniors on Tuesday.
