Attention River: Atlético Mineiro was a whirlwind, eliminated the champion and will be their rival in the semis

With a double from forward Deyverson, the Atletico Mineiro of Gabriel Milito advanced to the semifinals of the Libertadores Cup by beating an ultra-defensive team 2-0 (2-1 on aggregate) Fluminense This Wednesday in Belo Horizonte, witness to the early farewell of the defending champion, and will seek to reach the grand final against River.

The lord and master of the quarter-final return match, the ‘Galo’ turned the series around after losing 1-0 at the Maracaná a week ago, with goals from the irreverent 33-year-old striker in the 50th and 88th minutes.

Fluminense, threatened by relegation in the Brasileirao, said goodbye with a lackluster performance, very different from the offensive approach that led them to win their first Libertadores last year.

Champion of the continental tournament in 2013 with Ronaldinho, Mineiro will play in October for a place in the final against River, who last night eliminated Colo Colo with a 2-1 aggregate score.

The score at the MRV Arena, the modern stadium of the ‘Galo’, seemed to be a matter of minutes due to the overwhelming momentum with which the home team began the match.

Cheered on by almost 45,000 spectators, Milito’s men had four clear-cut chances to score in the first half. The most obvious was a penalty saved by Fábio from captain Hulk in the 8th minute, awarded after a handball by Colombian striker Jhon Arias.

Fábio, 43, watched with his eyes two shots from Gustavo Scarpa (18) and Rodrigo Battaglia (31) that almost hit his net. The Argentine’s shot crashed violently against his left post.

And Fluminense? Nothing in attack. Penthoused in their own half, the Cariocas resisted the home team’s attacks while their coach, former Brazilian national team coach Mano Menezes, looked worried from the sidelines.

After the break, the Rio team gave the impression of wanting to rebel, surely aware that they had been spared in the first 45 minutes.

But his rebellious attitude was short-lived, until Deyverson, who came on at the end of the first half to replace the injured Bernard, headed in Scarpa’s cross from the left.

Before the comeback could become a reality, Menezes reinforced his defence with the introduction of full-back Marcelo and defender Antonio Carlos.

Mineiro’s response? A left-footed shot from Scarpa (58) from outside the area that sent Fábio flying into the top left corner. The 2-0 was just a matter of time.

And the comeback was imminent not only because of the successive attempts by the black and whites, but because Fluminense did not show the slightest offensive reaction, not even with the entrance of the Argentine striker Germán Cano 25 minutes from the end.

Unfamiliar with Everson’s gloves, who did not face a single shot, the defending champions made it clear that their job was to force penalties.

But Deyverson, so given to madness and controversy, ruined the tricolor’s plans by connecting with his left leg to a cross from the right by Hulk in the final stretch of the match. Character, hero and, now, semi-finalist.