RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Gremio advanced to the Copa do Brasil final with a 1-1 draw at Atletico Mineiro on Saturday, securing a 3-1 aggregate victory despite an early scare.
Holding a 2-0 cushion from the first leg in Porto Alegre, Gremio started tentatively at the Arena MRV in Belo Horizonte. Former Atletico Madrid left-back Renan Lodi unlocked the visitors' five-man defense to put the hosts ahead with a 26th-minute strike.
The goal sprung the visitors into action and Carlos Vinicius equalized by latching onto Erick Noriega's delivery from a set piece with a 38th-minute header.
Atletico Mineiro was forced to play the last 10 minutes with a numerical disadvantage after Vitao was shown a straight red card for a rash challenge on former Barcelona forward Martin Braithwaite.
Gremio will face either Palmeiras or Vasco da Gama in the final in Brasilia on December 6. ■
