Universidad take slim edge over Vasco

Vasco da Gama have work to do if they are to reach a first Copa Sudamericana final after they were held to a 1-1 home draw by Universidad de Chile in the first leg of their semi-final on Wednesday. The Brazilian Cup winners took the lead on 33 minutes when an unmarked Bernardo met an Allan cross with a shot that went in off a defender. Universidad grabbed a priceless away goal 12 minutes from the end though when Osvaldo Gonzalez headed home a Marcelo Diaz cross. Vasco thought they had a penalty in injury time, when Bernardo went down under pressure from Gonzalez, but their appeals were waved away by the referee. Despite the draw Vasco forward Alecsandro believes his side will still progress. "It was not the result we expected but we'll go to Chile and win," he told Globo TV. "We were 1-0 ahead and it was looking good, but we conceded the equaliser." The second leg will be played in Santiago next Wednesday.