RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Veteran goalkeeper Fabio Maciel saved two spot kicks as Fluminense reached the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals on Tuesday by beating Brazilian rivals Gremio on penalties.
Fluminense took the initiative from the outset at the Maracana stadium after Gremio's 2-1 victory in the first leg.
Former Brazil national team captain Thiago Silva gave the Rio outfit the lead in the 14th minute by combining with Colombian Jhon Arias and slotting his shot into the bottom-right corner.
Arias went from provider to scorer as he converted a penalty attempt just before the half hour following Dodi's hand ball.
Gustavo Nunes reduced the deficit with a 76th-minute goal as the game was forced into a penalty shootout.
Nathan Souza and Franco Cristaldo saw their respective penalty attempts saved by 43-year-old Maciel before Arias converted the vital spot-kick. ■
