Grêmio lost again in the second leg, at home to Independiente del Valle and crashed out of the Libertadores. The visitors took it upon themselves as they were the hungrier side in the game on Wednesday, coming back from a goal down to win 2-1.
Jean Pyerre opened the scoring in the 22nd minute of the first half, before Ortiz replied just at the stroke of half time, and later got the winning goal in the 66th minute, catapulting his side straight to next round.
At the start of the game, the intensity was top notch from both teams, and it looked as if Grêmio would come out on top after scoring 14 minutes into the match.
Ferreira got the ball into the back of the net to level the scores on aggregate, but his goal was ruled out for an impediment in the play.
However, in the 22nd minute after several attempts, Jean Pyerre headed in and finally got the goal for the hosts. The Tricolor had two other chances to kill the game, an attempt from Maicon in the 35th minute and a strike from Ferreira two minutes later, but both failed to find the mark.
They were later punished at the stroke of half time, when Ortiz converted a beautiful freekick into the back of the net to draw level and get his team back in the lead on aggregate.
Grêmio’s confidence was dampened by the equalising goal, and they resumed the second half a totally different side.
Ortiz added to their miseries three minutes after Maicon received his second yellow card for a foul on Faravelli, and got his second of the night to make it 4-2 in favour of Independiente on aggregate, sending Grêmio out of the competition.
Advancing to group A of the Libertadores, Independiente will face the likes of Palmeiras, Defensa y Justicia-ARG and Universitario-PER.
