Santos Downs Atlético Mineiro 2-0 in Copa Sudamericana Quarterfinal First Leg

A header the linesman got wrong, a VAR check that felt like an eternity for the crowd, and in the end, total relief. That summed up the first 45 minutes at Vila Belmiro, where Santos beat Atlético Mineiro 2-0 in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana quarterfinals.

The night belonged to one name, and it wasn't a goalscorer, it was a playmaker: Gabigol. The Brazilian forward didn't find the net, but he was the mastermind behind both plays that decided the match. With Neymar watching from the box due to injury and cheering his teammates on, Gabriel Barbosa carried the team on his back and turned in one of those performances remembered more for what they create than what they score.

The start of the match, though, didn't match the final scoreline. Atlético Mineiro came out the better side, keeping the ball close and looking to push forward into Santos territory. For a good half hour, Eduardo Domínguez's side controlled the game without much trouble, though it lacked that final pass, that bit of depth needed to turn possession into real danger.

Then came the rehearsed play. A ball that Gabigol nodded on inside the box found Willian Arão, who finished to make it 1-0. The linesman raised his flag, Vila Belmiro held its breath, and VAR took its time before confirming everything had been legal. Goal confirmed, and with it, the match flipped.

From that point on, Santos, which had barely shown up until then, opened up. Cuca's side started finding its rhythm, carving out space and creating increasingly clear chances. Before halftime, Argentine midfielder Benjamín Rollheiser came close to doubling the lead with a shot that grazed the post.

Delfim held on as long as he could

In the second half, Santos stepped on the gas. There was a stretch, shortly before the hydration break, when goalkeeper Gabriel Delfim made three saves in a row to keep the gap from growing even wider. He couldn't stop the fourth shot in just five minutes, though: Christian Oliva finished into an open net after receiving an outside-of-the-foot pass from Gabigol, decisive once again, to make it a final 2-0.

Atlético Mineiro, which had handled the opening minutes well, faded as the clock wore on and finished the match without many clear chances. Domínguez's side will now need to come back at home if it wants to keep its hopes alive in the tournament.

The second leg is set for Wednesday, September 16 in Belo Horizonte, where the Brazilian club will need more than just the support of its fans to overturn a series that Santos has left in good shape.