Abel Ferreira’s Palmeiras beats LDU (1-0) and moves closer to the semi-finals

Palmeiras won again, but still hasn't found the football that fans are looking for. Amidst criticism of the team's performance after the loss of leadership in the Brasileirão, Abel Ferreira's team beat LDU 1-0 this Wednesday, at Nubank Parque, for the 1st leg of the Libertadores quarter-finals, and put themselves at an advantage on the way to the semi-finals.

Advantage for the 2nd leg

With the victory in São Paulo, the Verdão they only need a draw in the decisive match to advance to the next stage. The 2nd leg clash is scheduled for next Wednesday, at the Rodrigo Paz Delgado Stadium, at altitude in Quito, Ecuador.

The LDU needs to win by a two-goal difference to qualify in regulation time, while an Ecuadorian victory by a goal difference will take the decision to penalties.

Will there be changes? 

With Palmeiras involved in an intense sequence of games and competing in three competitions, coach Abel Ferreira's choice to make just one substitution in the match drew attention. The coach put young Heitor Vinícius on the field in place of Vitor Roque just in the 80th minute. The Portuguese still had players like Maurício and Felipe Anderson on the bench.