Grêmio established a commanding lead over Atlético-MG in the first leg of the Copa do Brasil semifinal, securing a 2-0 victory at Arena do Grêmio in Porto Alegre on Sunday, November 1. The match featured decisive goals from Carlos Vinícius and Noriega, setting up a favorable scenario for the Gaúcho side ahead of the return fixture.
The home team opened the scoring early in the first half. At the 10-minute mark, goalkeeper Weverton delivered a long throw that found Carlos Vinícius. The forward controlled the ball, cut inside, and finished with a shot into the back of the net to give Grêmio the initial advantage.
Grêmio extended their lead shortly after the start of the second half through Noriega. Following a combination play between Enamorado and João Pedro on the right flank, the full-back delivered a low cross into the box. Noriega arrived unmarked and struck the ball first-time, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance to make a save.
The teams will face each other again on November 7 at 18:00 Brasília time at Arena MRV in Belo Horizonte for the second leg. Under the current rules, Grêmio can afford to lose by a single goal difference and still advance to another Copa do Brasil final. Conversely, Atlético-MG must win by three goals to progress directly; a two-goal victory would send the tie to a penalty shootout to decide the finalist.
Sources: CNN Brasil.