18 Jun 2009
By Carlos Mauricio Ramirez, Caracas FC Press



So near yet so far. Manager Noel Sanvicente's Caracas FC were just centimeters away from making their first-ever Copa Santander Libertadores semi-final on Wednesday night in Porto Alegre, Brazil but the ball just wouldn't cross the line defended by Gremio's Marcelo in a match which ended 0-0.

In this way the Reds said goodbye to this season's competition, bowing out with their heads held high not having lost either of the two quarterfinal legs to their illustrious Brazilian opponents - one of the best teams in the Americas. Fabio Santos's 74th minute strike in Venezuela was enough to see his team through on the away goals rule.

Tough Opening Exchanges



Caracas found the going tough in the opening minutes with Gremio piling on the pressure with forwards and midfielders attacking the area around Renny Vega's goal. After the initial onslaught, however, the Reds began to adjust and got more into the game with the back four of Romero, Rey, Barone and Cichero forming something of an iron curtain at the same time as getting help from Vera and Lucena in the midfield area all able to stem the Gremio tide.

The Brazilians began to use the long ball with central defender Rever pitching the ball into the box but all to no avail.

On 18 minutes, Caracas had their first chance on goal. Following several headers in and around the box Franklin Lucena unleashed a right foot strike inside the D which was heading just inside the right hand upright until Marcelo flapped the ball away to safety allowing Gremio fans and players to breathe again.



No further clear-cut chances came for either side in the first half with everything to play for in the second.

Nailbiting Finish

Neither side made changes for the start of the second 45 minutes which saw Caracas go close with two real opportunities to open their account.

The first followed a Alejandro Guerra corner to the near post, headed on in the box to the waiting Devis Barone and Rafael Castellin neither of whom could break the deadlock. The second saw a Jose Manuel Rey free kick provide Gabriel Cichero with a one on one situation against Marcelo but his effort was cleared at the death by a Gremio fullback. Oh so close.



It was the Brazilians in the end who were begging for the game to finish and with the score at 0-0 the referee duly obliged sending Gremio through to the semi-final of the Copa Santander Libertadores.

Caracas were courageous and disciplined - a team who gave their all and were anything but losers. It wasn't to be this season but again the footballing world knows once more that Venezuela possesses a team which can surprise the very best.



Line Ups:

Gremio (0) - Marcelo; Ruy, Leo, Rever, Fabio Santos; Tulio, Adilson, Tcheco, Souza; Alex Mineiro and Maxi Lopez.

Caracas FC (0) - Renny Vega; Giovanny Romero, Jose M Rey, Deivis Barone, Gabriel Cichero; Luis Vera, Franklin Lucena, Dario Figueroa, Jesus Gomez, Rafael Castellin and Emilio Renteria.