Belo Horizonte, Jul 11: Atletico Mineiro moved into the Copa Libertadores final after goalkeeper Victor made the deciding save in a 3-2 penalty shootout win over Argentina's Newell's Old Boys on Wednesday.
The shootout came after Atletico Mineiro won 2-0 at home to level the semifinal series, canceling out the Argentine club's 2-0 win last week in Rosario.
In the decisive play, Victor stopped the spot kick taken by Maxi Rodriguez just after Ronaldinho converted his shot to his Brazilian club the advantage.
Alecsandro and Guilherme also scored in the shootout for Atletico Mineiro, while striker Jo missed his shot wide and midfielder Richarlyson sent his penalty over the crossbar.
Ignacio Scocco and Santiago Vergini got on the board for Newell's Old Boys, but Milton Casco and Rinaldo Cruzado also failed to score.
Wednesday's match was stopped for more than 10 minutes late in the second half because of a power outage at the Independencia Stadium in Belo Horizonte.
Victor also was the hero in the quarterfinals by saving an injury-time penalty to help Atletico Mineiro hold Tijuana of Mexico to a 1-1 draw and advance.
Young Brazil striker Bernard scored in the third minute on Wednesday after a pass from former two-time world player of the year Ronaldinho, and substitute striker Guilherme added the second goal with a shot from outside the area just five minutes from the end of regulation.
Atletico will next face three-time champion Olimpia of Paraguay, which eliminated Independiente Santa Fe of Colombia 2-1 on aggregate despite a 1-0 loss in Colombia on Tuesday.
Atletico will be playing in the final of Latin America's most important club competition for the first time. Olimpia's last title was in 2002, against Brazil's Sao Caetano.
At least one Brazilian team has made the final of the Copa Libertadores since 2005.
