CURITIBA, Brazil, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Atletico Paranaense took a step toward the Copa Sudamericana final with a 2-0 victory over Brazilian rivals Fluminense in the first leg of semifinal here on Wednesday.
Renan Lodi gave the hosts the lead with a 19th-minute strike at Arena da Baixada and he turned the provider with a perfectly weighted cross that forward Rony met with a bullet header 12 minutes from time.
The return leg will be played in Rio de Janeiro next Wednesday.
Colombian rivals Junior Barranquilla and Santa Fe will contest in the other semifinal, with the first leg to be played at Santa Fe's Campin in Bogota on Thursday.
The winner of the Copa Sudamericana will earn a berth in next year's Copa Libertadores, top football club tournament in South America.
