Internacional (Brazil) is the first semifinalist of the CONMEBOL Libertadores.

With a brace from Ecuadorian Enner Valencia, they defeated Bolívar 2-0 and won the key to the quarterfinals with a 3-0 aggregate score. Sergio Rochet saved a penalty from Ronnie Fernández. Wait for Fluminense (2) or Olimpia (0).

INTERNACIONAL became the first semifinalist of the Copa Libertadores after beating Bolívar 2-0 at the Beira Rio Stadium in Porto Alegre.

The Ecuadorian Enner Valencia scored the double that gave his team the victory.

In addition, he had scored in the first leg for his team's 1-0 victory at the Hernando Siles Stadium in Bolivia.

40m into the second half, Uruguayan Sergio Rochet saved Ronnie Fernández's penalty and kept Inter's goal at zero.

For Eduardo Coudet's team, the Argentines Fabricio Bustos (formerly Independiente) and Gabriel Mercado (formerly River and Racing) were starters.

While for the team led by the Spanish Beñat San José, the Argentines Nicolás Ferreyra (formerly Rosario Central) and Patricio Rodríguez (formerly Independiente) were starters

. Internacional will face Fluminense from Brazil or Olimpia from Paraguay for the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores, In the first leg, Flu won 2-0 , the return will be in Paraguay on Thursday.

The semifinal matches will be between the week of September 27 (Ida) and October 4 (Vuelta).

Eduardo “Chacho” Coudet.

It is well known that Eduardo Coudet is one of the best coaches of his generation. But Chacho had a hard time getting into the best four on the continent for the first time because he himself has taken it upon himself to warn that he does not like long-term projects. That's how he changed clubs and that's why he didn't play so many Copa Libertadores in recent years. But this Tuesday in Porto Alegre, he sealed the qualification to the semifinals with a clear 2-0 (3-0 on aggregate) over Bolívar from Bolivia.

The first time in the maximum continental tournament had been with Rosario Central in 2016 with the remembered elimination against Atlético Nacional de Colombia by Franco Armani in the quarterfinals.

Already in Racing, in 2018, he met in the round of 16 against Marcelo Gallardo's River, which would end up being crowned in Madrid against Boca. "I like teams that play well. Having played in important teams, football makes me feel that way," Coudet told Clarín in that 2018. And he continued: "Sometimes I feel like I'm lucky that the player like to be directed by me. And that helps me a lot. How do I convince them? I tell them that one always has the intention of putting together great teams. I don't know if everyone can say yes to me, the markets are tough and putting together squads is increasingly difficult, but in general I'm lucky".

Al cabo, las que disputó con Rosario Central y con Racing fueron las únicas Libertadores que el Chacho comenzó y terminó con el mismo equipo. Y es que en 2020 dirigió la fase de grupos en Inter de Porto Alegre y emigró a Celta de Vigo días antes de enfrentar a Boca por los octavos de final.

Este año, en tanto, estuvo al frente de Atlético Mineiro en 5 de los 6 partidos de fase de grupos y se alejó del conjunto de Belo Horizonte por problemas con los barras. A los pocos días, asumió en Inter con el desafío de enfrentar a River, a quien eliminó en octavos de final. Ahora, superó a Bolivar en cuartos y se metió en las semifinales.

Los números de Coudet en Copa Libertadores son los siguientes: dirigió 33 partidos, ganó 17, empató 7 y perdió 9.

Para eso trajeron a Valencia.

Autor de los tres tantos de la serie de cuartos de final, el capitán de Ecuador Enner Valencia fue vital para que los 'colorados gaúchos' disputen su primera semifinal de Libertadores en ocho años.

El atacante liquidó a los bolivianos con un zurdazo, en el minuto 11, y un derechazo, en el 60, que hicieron estallar de júbilo al atestado estadio mundialista Beira-Rio (49.137 espectadores).

Source images: Twitter CONMEBOL Libertadores.