Atletico Mineiro 2 Sao Paulo 1 (2-2 agg): Crucial Maicon goal sees visitors into semis
Maicon scored the crucial away goal as he headed Sao Paulo into the Copa Libertadores semi-finals, at the expense of Atletico Mineiro.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/D2Amv53zo4zDSiVE4zRWTc.jpg)
Sao Paulo booked their spot in the Copa Libertadores semi-finals with a 2-2 aggregate win on away goals, despite losing 2-1 away to Atletico Mineiro in the second leg of Wednesday's quarter-final tie.
Brazilian defender Maicon scored the crucial away goal to cap off a hectic 15 minutes after his side fell 2-0 down in the opening stages in Belo Horizonte.
Sao Paolo took a 1-0 lead into the second leg, but that advantage was quickly cancelled as Juan Cazares gave Brazilian rivals Mineiro a second-leg lead after just seven minutes, levelling the tie in the process.
Mineiro right-back Marcos Rocha stormed down the right wing to unleash a difficult shot on goal but Denis could only parry the ball into the path of Cazares, who found the back of the net via the feet of the Sao Paulo goalkeeper.
The hosts took an aggregate lead barely five minutes later when left-back Douglas Santos launched a cross from deep into the box, finding Carlos unmarked at the back post for a simple headed finish.
With Mineiro up and about, Sao Paulo looked like they would struggle to come back into the game but used their height and strength at set-pieces to find what proved to be the winning goal of the two-legged tie.
Kelvin launched a wonderful corner from the left, finding Maicon who rose highest to beat his two markers and the onrushing keeper Victor to nod home.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
A tight and tense second half followed but neither side found the back of the net, Mineiro's Leandro Donizete sent off in stoppage time as Sao Paulo progressed to the final four.
![LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 15: Thierry Henry and Ray Parlour of Arsenal with the Premier League trophy after the match between Arsenal and Leicester City in the Premier League at Highbury on May 15, 2004 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cny2ryN67xNSodDtmtvUUh-840-80.jpg)
‘He could have been another Thierry Henry if he’d stayed at Arsenal. It was up to him what he wanted because he was 6ft 1in, quick and unbelievable’: Ray Parlour claims Champions League winner could have enjoyed even greater success with Gunners
![Marcus Rashford is presented as an Aston Villa player in February 2025 after his loan move from Manchester United.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/osp3DXXKWWAMByKt7GzNnk-840-80.jpg)
‘I don’t think we’ll see Marcus Rashford at Manchester United again – when you’re not seeing eye to eye with a manager, it can hinder your training, but a loan can work, it did for me’ Ex-Premier League star on parallels with forward’s Aston Villa switch