Gremio Vs. Universidad Catolica, 2011 Copa Libertadores: UC In Control At Halftime

It’s all gone Universidad Catolica’s way in the first half, as they lead Gremio by a score of 1-0, away in Porto Alegre. Additionally, Gremio are down a man. As a result, their hopes of advancing to the quarterfinals of the 2011 Copa Libertadores are looking extremely thin, just 45 minutes into a 180 minute tie.

Gremio got off to a good start, as Douglas hit the post in the 10th minute on a stunning 25 yard shot. However, those kinds of shots would be the best opportunities that Gremio would get throughout the half.

Juan Antonio Pizzi has opted to play one striker and pack the midfield while playing on the counter, and his tactics have worked to perfection. Striker Lucas Pratto, who has been in fantastic form, scored the game’s only goal in the 28th minute, assisted by Marcelo Cañete. It was a great finish on the counter-attack, and it was exactly how UC were going to score if they were ever going to score a goal in the first half.

Just six minutes later, Gremio’s hopes of getting back into the tie dwindled significantly, as Borges was shown a straight red card for an elbow to the face of David Henríquez. The referee consulted with his linesman on the play, and in the end, the pair of them made the correct decision to send off Borges for a very ill-advised and dangerous foul.

Though they could attack more against ten men, there’s no reason for UC to change their tactics. They’re very much in control, and keeping a clean sheet is likely to be their first priority.