After winning the first half of the Rio Grande do Sul state championship, Gremio lost its first match of the second half on Saturday to Cruzeiro-RS 2-0.
Gremio, using a majority of its reserve players in order to preserve its starters for its upcoming match in the Libertadores Cup, had difficulty in harmonizing its offense. The team's main offensive weapon, Carlos Alberto, was expulsed from the match after excessive complaining. Defending his player, head coach Renato Gaucho was also removed from the match.
Cruzeiro-RS scored its first goal in the 32nd minute when Diego Torres fired the ball past reserve keeper Matheus. Almir increased his team's lead in the 62nd minute after knocking in a great pass from Diego Torres.
In the next round of the second half of the state tournament, Gremio will travel to face Porto Alegre on March 20. On the same day, Cruzeiro-RS will host Juventude. Before returning to the state championship, Gremio will travel to face Peru's Leon de Huanuco on March 17 in the return leg of Group 2 of the 2011 Libertadores Cup.
