SharePalmeiras have a 2-1 lead to defend in the second leg of their Copa Libertadores semi-final tie next week, though it could have been more.Wesley Nata's stoppage-time goal inspired hope for Fluminense in their bid to reach the Copa Libertadores final, but they still have it all to do following a 2-1 first-leg semi-final loss to Palmeiras.It was three-time champions and 2025 runners-up Palmeiras who took control at the Maracana, with Flaco Lopez and Marlon Freitas striking to put them 2-0 up before Wesley cut their lead to one goal late on.Neither team threatened with regularity during a tense first half, though Carlos Miguel stood tall to deny Fluminense forward Hulk shortly before the scoring was opened at the other end, in stoppage time.Joaquin Piquerez crossed first-time from the left after making an underlapping run in support of Andreas Pereira, and though Lopez's shot on the slide was straight at Fluminense goalkeeper Fabio, he could not keep it out.Fabio was forced into a sharp save by Piquerez at the start of the second half, while a glancing header from Agustin Canobbio drifted wide at the other end.Fabio then made himself big to smother Felipe Anderson's shot, but when he parried Ramon Sosa's attempt in the 85th minute, Fluminense failed to clear their lines and Freitas drove a half-volley into the bottom-left corner.Though Fluminense's performance was largely flat, they will only need to overturn a one-goal deficit in Sao Paulo, after Wesley headed Guga's floated cross over the stranded Carlos Miguel three minutes into added time.Fluminense's home record ends after meek display Fluminense were participating in their third Copa Libertadores semi-final tie, having never previously lost a match at this stage (W2 D2), scoring at least two goals in every one of those games and progressing to the final on both occasions (2008 and 2023).In addition, they had never previously lost a home match in the knockout stages of the Copa Libertadores, with 15 wins and five draws in 20 attempts.After seeing those records swept away, they will have to do things the hard way if they are to reach South America's showpiece match for a third time.They may feel fortunate to have received a lifeline from Wesley late on, having only generated 0.48 expected goals (xG) from 11 shots, compared to Palmeiras' 1.18 from seven.After scoring the opener, Lopez leads all Palmeiras players for both goals and assists (four of each) in this year's Libertadores, and the Alviverde have not avoided defeat in seven of their last 10 away Libertadores games against fellow Brazilian teams (W4 D3 L3).Palmeiras have a 2-1 lead to defend in the second leg of their Copa Libertadores semi-final tie next week, though it could have been more.Wesley Nata's stoppage-time goal inspired hope for Fluminense in their bid to reach the Copa Libertadores final, but they still have it all to do following a 2-1 first-leg semi-final loss to Palmeiras.It was three-time champions and 2025 runners-up Palmeiras who took control at the Maracana, with Flaco Lopez and Marlon Freitas striking to put them 2-0 up before Wesley cut their lead to one goal late on.Neither team threatened with regularity during a tense first half, though Carlos Miguel stood tall to deny Fluminense forward Hulk shortly before the scoring was opened at the other end, in stoppage time.Joaquin Piquerez crossed first-time from the left after making an underlapping run in support of Andreas Pereira, and though Lopez's shot on the slide was straight at Fluminense goalkeeper Fabio, he could not keep it out.Fabio was forced into a sharp save by Piquerez at the start of the second half, while a glancing header from Agustin Canobbio drifted wide at the other end.Fabio then made himself big to smother Felipe Anderson's shot, but when he parried Ramon Sosa's attempt in the 85th minute, Fluminense failed to clear their lines and Freitas drove a half-volley into the bottom-left corner.Though Fluminense's performance was largely flat, they will only need to overturn a one-goal deficit in Sao Paulo, after Wesley headed Guga's floated cross over the stranded Carlos Miguel three minutes into added time.Fluminense's home record ends after meek display Fluminense were participating in their third Copa Libertadores semi-final tie, having never previously lost a match at this stage (W2 D2), scoring at least two goals in every one of those games and progressing to the final on both occasions (2008 and 2023).In addition, they had never previously lost a home match in the knockout stages of the Copa Libertadores, with 15 wins and five draws in 20 attempts.After seeing those records swept away, they will have to do things the hard way if they are to reach South America's showpiece match for a third time.They may feel fortunate to have received a lifeline from Wesley late on, having only generated 0.48 expected goals (xG) from 11 shots, compared to Palmeiras' 1.18 from seven.After scoring the opener, Lopez leads all Palmeiras players for both goals and assists (four of each) in this year's Libertadores, and the Alviverde have not avoided defeat in seven of their last 10 away Libertadores games against fellow Brazilian teams (W4 D3 L3).