Inter is almost there

Internacional took a huge step towards its first ever Copa Libertadores title on Wednesday, defeating Sao Paulo 2-1 at the Morumbi Stadium. With the result, the team only needs a draw next week at home to take the continental crown away from Sao Paulo.

In a very nervous and exciting match, the locals had their hopes crushed early on the match, when Josue was red carded after only 10 minutes of play, for a vicious elbowing infraction in midfield. Without its important defensive midfielder, Sao Paulo lost its game plan and allowed Inter to control the play during the first half, without ever recovering. Things seemed to improve for Sao Paulo when Fabinho was sent off for slapping Souza with five minutes to play in the half. However, Sao Paulo was still a tactical mess in the second half, allowing too much space for Inter midfielders and forwards to exchange passes and close in Rogerio Ceni's goal.

After just eight minutes into the second half, Rafael Sobis controlled the ball outside the penalty box, fooled his opponent and place a perfect shot to the lower right-hand side of Ceni. 1-0 Inter. The 70,000 local fans could not believe their eyes. The same could be said of the 3,000 or so brave colorados who made the journey from Porto Alegre and the millions more who had stayed home. The goal also seemed to shock Sao Paulo's players, and eight minutes later Sobis would get his second of the game, after easily deflecting a header that came off the crossbar.

Desperate, Sao Paulo pushed forward trying to get at least a goal, but still believieng it could tie the game. Not very organized, the local team was lucky to find the net with 15 minutes left in regulation, with defender Edcarlos heading a cross from the right wing past goalkeeper Clemer. That would be all Sao Paulo would get though, as Clemer still made a couple of big saves in the dying moments to preserve the invaluable away win for Inter.

Sao Paulo must now overcome its historic record away from home in finals at the continental competition. In five previous finals, the team never won a game away from home. One should quickly point out, though, that previous to yesterday, the team had also never lost a game in the finals at home. For Inter, next Wednesday's match can be considered the most important in club history. Only the title will satisfy the long suffering colorado crowd.

For that to happen, the team must cope with the enormous pressure that will surely be felt at the Beira-Rio, and the ghosts of previous failures at the critical stages of the Libertadores. After all, 17 years ago the team also had a huge away win against Paraguay's Olimpia at the competition's semifinal. In the return leg, Olimpia won in regulation and again in the penalty shootout to eliminate Inter from the tournament. Then, as now, the team was coached by Abel Braga. Has he learned his lesson after that loss? We'll only know for sure on Wednesday.