Nacional, Gremio reach semi-finals

Nacional became the first Uruguayan side to reach the last four of the Copa Libertadores in 20 years after playing out a goalless draw in Montevideo against Brazil's Palmeiras in the second leg of the quarter-finals.

Holding a slender advantage after a 1-1 draw at Parque Antartica last month, Nacional frustrated the visitors at the Centenario Stadium with a resolute defensive display.

The Brazilians exerted much of the pressure but could find no way past goalkeeper Rodrigo Munoz, who was in inspired form as he kept out a free-kick by Willians and stopped an Obina header.

Keirrison also went close for Palmeiras with a long range shot that flew just over the crossbar.

The result made Nacional the first Uruguayan club since Danubio in 1989 to reach the Libertadores semi-finals and coach Gerardo Pelusso made no excuses for his team's defensive approach.

"All the media here are asking why we defended throughout the game but that doesn't matter as it has put a Uruguayan team in the semi-finals for the first time after 20 years," he said.

Nacional, who won the last of their three Libertadores titles in 1988, will face either domestic rivals Defensor Sporting or Argentina's Estudiantes in the last four.

The Argentinian side will visit Montevideo today holding a slender 1-0 lead from the first leg in La Plata.

In the other match on Wednesday, Gremio also advanced to the semi-finals after holding Caracas to a goalless draw in Brazil.

The Venezuelan visitors went close to dumping out the Porto Alegre side when Gabriel Cichero's 84th-minute effort went just wide.

But Paulo Cesar Autori's team survived and face an all-Brazilian semi-final against either Sao Paulo or Cruzeiro.

The two teams meet tonight in Sao Paulo with Cruzeiro holding a 2-1 advantage from the first leg.