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Raphael Veiga celebrates Palmeiras’ last goal against Santos in the final of the Copa Libertadores on Saturday. RICARDO MORAES / POOL / AFP via Getty Images
For the second year in a row, a Brazilian team with a Portuguese coach won the South American Copa Libertadores. For the second year in a row, there was an extraordinary late drama. But the neutral may not have the same affection for Abel Ferreira’s Palmeiras as he does for Jorge Jesús’ Flamengo, who won the 2019 title.
A lot of this has to do with conditions. Since soccer resumed in Brazil after the coronavirus shutdown, the schedule has been punishing. On Saturday, Palmeiras was playing his 55th game since football was restarted in late July. And the recent ones, including this final against the Brazilian Santos, have been played in the middle of summer.
A 5pm start time did a lot to ensure the match was cautious. The heat in Rio de Janeiro was hellish, and the Maracana stadium is especially hot since it was rebuilt for the 2014 World Cup, with the roof extended ensuring that temperatures remain high.
Santos made the obvious move on the conditions. Concerned about Palmeiras counterattack, they played an extra man in midfield, bringing Sandry for Lucas Braga: they knew they had a long afternoon ahead of them.
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– Match report: Palmeiras scored late to beat Santos in the Cup final
True to form, Palmeiras were unlikely to take risks. They would bide their time and bide their time, trusting that their deeper squad would give them more options from the bench. Palmeiras would be very happy for the game to go into extra time. Santos had to protect himself from being too anxious and falling into his trap.
The problem was that Santos could not disturb the Palmeiras defense. Star right winger Marinho was restrained – he’s all left foot, so Palmeiras made sure he couldn’t cut inside. On the other flank, Yeferson Soteldo was a disappointment, seemingly lacking the confidence to take on his opponent on the rare occasions when he was one-on-one. Young center forward Kaio Jorge worked fiercely, but found it difficult to link the play. His biggest threat came from the occasional attacking forays by left-back Felipe Jonatan.
Palmeiras, meanwhile, looked like the most dangerous team, whether in set pieces or in quick breaks from winger Rony. But their main priority was containment, and center forward Luiz Adriano was left isolated.
In the last 20 minutes, Santos coach Cuca made his move. Braga came in, giving them four players up front and freeing Marinho to roam. Realizing that the game had become more open, Palmeiras introduced Breno Lopes, another fast forward.
It seemed that Santos’ change was having a greater impact. Suddenly his game found a new fluidity. They came close to taking the lead when Diego Pituca’s shot was knocked out by goalkeeper Weverton, and Jonatan fired wide off the rebound.
Then two things changed the momentum. Kaio hurt himself trying a kick from above. With little options on the bench, Cuca replaced him with a defender, and also reluctantly replaced the injured Jonatan. He stopped Santos’s attack drive.
Palmeiras lifted the Copa Libertadores for the second time in its history on Saturday. Silvia Izquierdo – Pool / Getty Images
It looked like the game was heading into extra time, but then Cuca was embroiled in a dispute over the touchline with Palmeiras right-back Marcos Rocha. The two were together at Atlético Mineiro when they won the 2013 Libertadores, but were now fighting on the touchline after Cuca grabbed the ball and then pushed it to avoid a quick restart. The referee dismissed Cuca, and the spirits were altered when the players were surrounded in a wave of pushing.
The result was that Santos turned off and lost concentration in the vital moment. Rony was given too much room deep on the right to bend into a magnificent cross at the far post, where Breno clambered over Para to guide his header back into goal and into the corner. It was the tenth minute of injury time and Santos had no turning back.
The belated drama had thrown in an unexpected hero. If teenage Gabriel Veron had been in shape, Breno almost certainly would not have been attracted. Instead, he was the man who allowed Palmeiras to celebrate in the way of 1999, the only year before they claimed the title.
However, the celebrations will have to be short-lived. Palmeiras fans are frequently teased for their lack of a club world title. All their local rivals have one, now it’s their turn. They leave for the Middle East for the Club World Cup, where they will be in action next Sunday in a semifinal against the winners of Tigres de México and Ulsan Hyundai of South Korea. Palmeiras will be dreaming of a final against European champion Bayern Munich, aware that upon their return they will face a two-game Brazilian Cup final against Gremio.
In such a crowded schedule, it is not surprising that the Libertadores have been won by a team with a pragmatic and risk-free approach.
Source: espn.co.uk
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