Grêmio qualified for the quarter-finals of the Copa do Brasil after defeating Mirassol 1-0 on Wednesday at the Arena in Porto Alegre. Following a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Mirassol, the home side advanced with a 2-1 aggregate victory in a match marked by refereeing controversies.
The match was decided in the first half. In the 36th minute, Argentine player Pavon, who had faced heavy criticism from supporters, scored from a free kick taken outside the wall. Mirassol goalkeeper Alex Muralha made two errors on the play, failing both in positioning his wall and in reacting to reach the ball.
Refereeing controversies
Referee Davi Lacerda and his officiating team took center stage with two major controversial decisions, one affecting each team. In the first half, Grêmio's Paraguayan midfielder Villasanti was brought down by an opponent's sliding tackle that failed to make contact with the ball, just as he attempted to touch the ball into an empty net near the goal line.
Mirassol thought they had equalized in the second half through Bruno Santos. However, Lacerda ruled that André Luís had committed a handball during the header that set up the goal. VAR confirmed the decision to disallow the goal, despite FIFA recommendations stating that the rule applies when the offender finishes the play, which André Luís did not do.
Upcoming fixtures and draw
Grêmio will learn their quarter-final opponent on Tuesday, August 11, when the Football Association, known as the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), conducts the draw for the matchups and the bracket leading to the final.
Grêmio returns to action in the 22nd round of the Brasileirão on Saturday, August 8, hosting São Paulo at the Arena. Mirassol plays on Sunday, August 9, visiting Cruzeiro at the Mineirão stadium.
