Flamengo won the Copa Libertadores for the third time this Sunday and responded to last year’s defeat in the final with a goal from Gabriel Barbosa, which brought the decisive game against Athletico Paranaense (1-0).
Beaten in 2021 by Palmeiras from Portuguese coach Abel Ferreira (2-1, after extra time), the ‘red and blacks’ from Rio de Janeiro won the main South American club competition thanks to a goal in the 45+4th minute, punishing a opponent who was outnumbered 43 by the ouster of central defender and captain Pedro Henrique.
After the victories in the 1981 and 2019 editions, ‘mengão’ became the Brazilian team with the most titles in the competition, alongside São Paulo, Palmeiras, Grêmio and Santos..
The balance led the first half hour of the final, the third consecutive between Brazilian teams, with the Cariocas ‘colliding into the opposing team’s compact defence’ despite greater possession, and the Coritiba team proving to be more dangerous at times. when who went to the Rio area.
After a slow start at the Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Athletico Paranaense ‘rocked’ the game for the first time with two chances in the 12th minute: Vítor Roque put Santos to the test with a cross and the following throw-in , Alex Santana took advantage of some confusion in the area to break free and shoot over.
Vítor Roque again threatened the ‘red-black’ goal in the 22nd minute, with a shot to the side, from outside the area, after a forced ‘substitution’ by the men of Rio de Janeiro, with the injured Filipe Luís giving the spot to Ayrton Lucas.
The connection between Flamengo’s wingers and forwards improved after 30 minutes, forcing opponents to run more to cover the newly created spaces, leading to Luiz Felipe Scolari’s team committing more mistakes and being outnumbered. .
After the first card in a ‘hard’ tackle to Gabriel Barbosa after 28 minutes, Athletico captain Pedro Henrique Ayrton defeated Lucas when the left-back was isolated on the left and was sent off the field 43 minutes into the game for collecting yellows. Cards .
Flamengo accentuated the offensive pressure in the remaining time until half-time and scored the trophy-giving goal in the fourth minute of added time when Everton Ribeiro got space on the right and crossed to the far post where Gabriel Barbosa, a former Benfica player, seemed off goal, ‘touching’ against the back of the nets.
Around Athletico, the game continued to develop at the start of the second half, with João Gomes threatening the second Carioca goal in the 50th minute, in a ‘shot’ from afar.
The reaction of Coritiba’s men did not come until after the 65th minute, with Pablo coming in to replace Vítor Roque to boost Paraná’s attack, but without translating into opportunities to restore the score and go to the could lead to the final. , with the exception of a free kick by Ternas, saved by Santos, at 90+1.
Succeeding Palmeiras, winner in 2020 and 2021, Flamengo took the fourth consecutive victory in Libertadores for Brazilian teams, while the Paraná team, still without victories in the competition, lost the second final in history, after the debut of 2005. , against Sao Paulo .
Source: DN
