Santos FC Vs. Cerro Porteño, 2011 Copa Libertadores Semifinals: 1-0 Full Time, Neymar Shines

Wednesday night’s 2011 Copa Libertadores Semifinal was entirely predictable, but it still sets up a very interesting return leg in Paraguay. Away from home and facing a tough opponent, Cerro Porteño predictably played a very defensive style of play, and Santos FC predictably found one goal, but one goal only to squeak by their rivals at home with a 1-0 win.

Neymar was the man who created the goal, to the surprise of no one. Picking the ball up around 20 yards from goal, Neymar dribbled out to the left side of the penalty area and beat two men with his dribbling skills and pace to get himself to the byline and put in a cross. That cross met the head of captain Edu Dracena, who headed in the game’s only goal off the underside of the crossbar.

Santos had a chance to take a much more crippling 2-0 lead in the tie in the final minute of stoppage time, but young Alan Patrick couldn’t convert. Neymar created this chance much like he created the first one, but this time his cross deflected off of a defender and fell to Alan Patrick. The 19-year-old attacking midfielder had the goal at his mercy, but could only manage to hit Cerro goalkeeper Diego Barreto right in the feet. The game ended 1-0, and while Santos have an advantage, Cerro will feel like they accomplished their goal of giving themselves a chance to win at home.