Palmeiras beat Fluminense 2-1 to take Libertadores semi-final lead

Summary

• Palmeiras took a major step towards the Copa Libertadores final after securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Fluminense in the first leg of their semi-final at the Maracana Stadium on Wednesday.
• The Sao Paulo side will host the second leg next Wednesday, knowing that another solid performance could secure their place in the November 28 final at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo.
• With a place in the final at stake, Palmeiras will aim to protect their lead, while Fluminense must find a way past their opponents’ stubborn defence to keep their continental dream alive.

AI Generated Summary

Palmeiras took a major step towards the Copa Libertadores final after securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Fluminense in the first leg of their semi-final at the Maracana Stadium on Wednesday.

Goals from Argentine forward Jose Manuel Lopez and Marlon Freitas gave Palmeiras the advantage, while Wesley Nata’s late header kept Fluminense’s hopes alive ahead of next week’s decisive return fixture.

The victory puts Palmeiras in a strong position to reach the final of South America’s premier club competition. The Sao Paulo side will host the second leg next Wednesday, knowing that another solid performance could secure their place in the November 28 final at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo.