Paranaense inch closer to Copa Sudamericana final

Curitiba (Brazil) : Atletico Paranaense beat fellow Brazilians Fluminense 2-0 in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana semi-finals and are now the favourites to enter the final of the continental tournament for the first time in their history.

The hosts opened the scoring in the 19th minute on Wednesday through Renan Lodi and Rony extended the lead in the 77th minute, reports Efe.

Paranaense, who reached the semi-finals after eliminating another Brazilian team, Bahia, in the quarter-finals, will attempt to reach the final when they visit Fluminense on November 28 in the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro for the second leg.

Fluminense reached this stage after beating Uruguay's Nacional.

The winner of the duel between the two Brazilian teams will meet a Colombian team in the final.

The first leg of the other semi-final will be played between Colombian clubs Santa Fe and Junior Barranquilla on November 8.