🏆 Grêmio stun holders; Late heroics save Colo-Colo; Atlético Mineiro held | OneFootball

The Copa Libertadores Round of 16 first leg meetings kicked off on Tuesday with three games on the schedule. Here is what went down.

Late heroics lift Colo-Colo over Junior FC

Scorer: Pizarro 76′

Nothing could separate Chile’s Colo-Colo against Junior FC of Colombia until one moment of brilliance deep into the second half saw the hosts come out on top 1-0.

Colo-Colo suffered an early setback when veteran Arturo Vidal picked up an injury during the warm-up and was forced to be replaced.

And perhaps his absence had an impact on the match. The hosts dominated the game with 16 shots to three, but nothing was convincing enough to break a compact defence. Junior, at times, had seven or eight players packing the box.

The best chance for the breakthrough subsequently arrived at the hands of the hosts when Carlos Palacios played the ball into the box but a heavy touch from Javier Correa ruined the opportunity.

It looked like Junior would walk back to the Estadio Metropolitano with a huge point until Vicente Pizarro stayed onside in the box to power home his first goal of the season and hand Colo-Colo a slim lead on aggregate.

Atlético Mineiro fight for San Lorenzo draw

Scorer: Cuello 17′; Paulinho 58′

It was 90 minutes of few opportunities with only six shots on target combined as Argentina’s San Lorenzo and Brazil’s Atlético Mineiro split the points in a 1-1 draw.

The opener arrived at the hands of the hosts when a curling cross was sent in from out wide and Alexis Cuello blasted home a header as he drove towards goal. The forward then jumped up on the gates and celebrated with fans.

But San Lorenzo’s low possession (29%) allowed Atlético Mineiro back into the game in the second half. The visitors kept pushing, looking for a mistake, and ultimately drew level.

Facundo Altamirano spilled an initial shot, and a wide-open Paulinho was unmarked in the box, seeing him make no mistake from point-blank range for the equaliser.

10-man Grêmio defeat holders after quick comeback

Scorers: Reinaldo 74′ (P), 77′; De Lima 58′. Red: Ely 84′

Fluminense sit in the relegation zone of Série A and their struggles continued in this tournament as the holders let their lead slip 2-1 against a punishing Grêmio side.

After the first 45 minutes of this all-Brazilian showing, nothing could separate the sides, but that left the door open for a dramatic second half.

A slick team move from Fluminense led to the opener. Vinícius Moreira de Lima was left unmarked near the back post, and the substitute struck a half-volley beyond Agustín Marchesín.

The visitors looked to see out the game and take their upset back to Rio de Janeiro, but a defensive error opened the door for Grêmio.

A handball from Esquerdinha was right on the line and left the referee no choice but to award a penalty despite one Thiago Silva pleading otherwise.

Reinaldo Manoel da Silva smashed home the subsequent spot-kick and registered a brace three minutes later when his free-kick trickled into the net.

Grêmio made things harder for themselves after Rodrigo Ely was controversially sent off for some wrestling but the hosts managed to hold on and take a vital aggregate lead against the reigning champions.

We’ll have more action for you on Wednesday!