Gremio beat Lanus to win Copa Libertadores

Soccer Football - Copa Libertadores Final - Argentina’s Lanus v Brazil's Gremio - Ciudad de Lanus stadium, Lanus, Argentina - November 29, 2017 - Gremio players celebrate with the trophy. REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Gremio won the Copa Libertadores on Wednesday after a 2-1 win over Argentine side Lanus gave the Brazilian team a 3-1 aggregate triumph and their third Libertadores title.

Fernandinho got Gremio's first goal after 26 minutes when he stole possession in his own half before running 40 yards and hammering the ball home from just inside the penalty box.

Luan doubled their lead four minutes before half time when he drifted past three defenders on the edge of the box and lifted a delightful chip over the helpless keeper.

Soccer Football - Argentina's Lanus v Brazil's Gremio - Copa Libertadores Final - Ciudad de Lanus stadium, Lanus, Argentina - November 29, 2017. Lanus' Roman Martinez (L) in action with Gremio's Jailson. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

Jose Sand pulled one back for Lanus from the penalty spot after 71 minutes.

Gremio, who also won the title in 1983 and 1995, had beaten the Argentine side 1-0 at home last week in Porto Alegre.

The win was a personal triumph for Gremio coach Renato Gaucho, who won the title with the club in 1983 and became the first Brazilian to lift the trophy as both a player and manager.

Soccer Football - Argentina's Lanus v Brazil's Gremio - Copa Libertadores Final - Ciudad de Lanus stadium, Lanus, Argentina - November 29, 2017. Gremio's Fernandinho scores a goal. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

Attacking midfielder Luan was named the tournament's Best Player.

Gremio were the better team overall, especially in the first half when Luan and Arthur were commanding in midfield.

Arthur limped off injured six minutes into the second period, allowing Lanus to come more into the game.

Soccer Football - Argentina's Lanus v Brazil's Gremio - Copa Libertadores Final - Ciudad de Lanus stadium, Lanus, Argentina - November 29, 2017. Gremio's Fernandinho (R) celebrates with Luan after scoring. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

But neither Sand's penalty – which took him on to nine goals and the tournament's leading scorer - nor Ramiro's sending off eight minutes from time could lift the home side past the resolute visitors.

"We are going to celebrate until Saturday, Sunday," goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe said in a televised interview in front of thousands of ecstatic visiting fans.

"This is exciting, this is what these supporters deserve."

Soccer Football - Copa Libertadores Final - Argentina’s Lanus v Brazil's Gremio - Ciudad de Lanus stadium, Lanus, Argentina - November 29, 2017 - Gremio's players celebrate with fans after their first goal. REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci

(Reporting by Andrew Downie; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)

Soccer Football - Argentina's Lanus v Brazil's Gremio - Copa Libertadores Final - Ciudad de Lanus stadium, Lanus, Argentina - November 29, 2017. Gremio's Fernandinho celebrates after scoring. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

Soccer Football - Copa Libertadores Final - Argentina’s Lanus v Gremio - Ciudad de Lanus stadium, Lanus, Argentina - November 29, 2017 - Gremio's Lucas Barrios and Lanus' Maximiliano Velazquez in action. REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci

Soccer Football - Copa Libertadores Final - Argentina’s Lanus v Brazil's Gremio - Ciudad de Lanus stadium, Lanus, Argentina - November 29, 2017. Referee Enrique Caceres of Paraguay shows Gremio's Ramiro a red card. REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci

Soccer Football - Copa Libertadores Final - Argentina’s Lanus v Brazil's Gremio - Ciudad de Lanus stadium, Lanus, Argentina - November 29, 2017. Lanus' Jose Sand and Gremio's Bressan in action. REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci

Soccer Football - Argentina's Lanus v Brazil's Gremio - Copa Libertadores Final - Ciudad de Lanus stadium, Lanus, Argentina - November 29, 2017. Gremio's Luan scores a goal. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

Soccer Football - Argentina's Lanus v Brazil's Gremio - Copa Libertadores Final - Ciudad de Lanus stadium, Lanus, Argentina - November 29, 2017. Gremio's Luan (C) celebrate after scoring. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

Soccer Football - Copa Libertadores Final - Argentina's Lanus v Brazil's Gremio - Arena do Gremio, Porto Alegre, Brazil - November 29, 2017. Gremio fans react after their team goal as they watch the Copa Libertadores final match on a giant screen. REUTERS/Diego Vara

Soccer Football - Copa Libertadores Final - Argentina’s Lanus v Gremio - Ciudad de Lanus stadium, Lanus, Argentina - November 29, 2017 - Lanus' goalkeeper Esteban Andrada reacts after receiving a goal. REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci

Soccer Football - Argentina's Lanus v Brazil's Gremio - Copa Libertadores Final - Ciudad de Lanus stadium, Lanus, Argentina - November 29, 2017. Gremio's Marcelo Grohe celebrates at the end of the match. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

Soccer Football - Copa Libertadores Final - Argentina’s Lanus v Brazil's Gremio - Ciudad de Lanus stadium, Lanus, Argentina - November 29, 2017 - Gremio players react as they win the match. REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci

Soccer Football - Argentina's Lanus v Brazil's Gremio - Copa Libertadores Final - Ciudad de Lanus stadium, Lanus, Argentina - November 29, 2017. Gremio's Leonardo Moura celebrates at the end of the match. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

Soccer Football - Copa Libertadores Final - Argentina's Lanus v Brazil's Gremio - Arena do Gremio, Porto Alegre, Brazil - November 29, 2017. Gremio fans celebrate after their team won the Copa Libertadores final match. REUTERS/Diego Vara

Soccer Football - Argentina's Lanus v Brazil's Gremio - Copa Libertadores Final - Ciudad de Lanus stadium, Lanus, Argentina - November 29, 2017. Gremio's coach Renato Gaucho celebrates at the end of the match. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

Soccer Football - Copa Libertadores Final - Argentina’s Lanus v Brazil's Gremio - Ciudad de Lanus stadium, Lanus, Argentina - November 29, 2017 - Lanus' players stand together after losing their match. REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci

Soccer Football - Argentina's Lanus v Brazil's Gremio - Copa Libertadores Final - Ciudad de Lanus stadium, Lanus, Argentina - November 29, 2017. Gremio's Jael celebrate with the trophy. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

Soccer Football - Copa Libertadores Final - Argentina’s Lanus v Brazil's Gremio - Ciudad de Lanus stadium, Lanus, Argentina - November 29, 2017 - Gremio players celebrate with the trophy. REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci