We had to go to overtime to witness a moment in history: the Brazilian club Fluminense won its first Copa Libertadores at the expense of the Argentine team Boca Juniors, Saturday at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro (2-1 after extensions). Argentinian Fluminense German Cano opened the scoring in the 36th minute, his 13th goal in this competition at the age of 35. Peruvian right-back Luis Advincula equalized for Boca in the 73rd with a superb curling shot from the left from outside the area, then John Kennedy (entered into play in the 80th) scored the Brazilian winning goal in extra time (99th).
The evening’s “supersub” was then excluded for having celebrated his goal too much with the supporters. The Argentine team also finished with ten men after the exclusion of Colombian defender Frank Fabra for slapping Nino (105th).
Boca Juniors, crowned six times, lost for the sixth time in the final of this competition, the South American equivalent of the European Champions League. This final allowed us to see old acquaintances such as the former Naples and PSG scorer Edinson Cavani (36 years old) on the Boca side and the multi-titled Real Madrid defender Marcelo (35 years old) on the Fluminense side. Both were replaced in the second half.
The emotion of Marcelo, with his endless list of achievements
“Real Madrid will understand, but it is the most important title of my club career. Madrid is in my heart, but I grew up with Fluminense and I owed a debt to this team, said Marcelo, winner of five Champions Leagues with the Spanish club, speaking to ESPN. It’s my favorite club, the club that gave me all the tools to have a great career. Winning this title with Fluminense is priceless, there is nothing more rewarding. »
Fluminense succeeds another Brazilian club, its great rival Flamengo, winner last year of Atlético Paranaense 1-0 in the final in Guayaquil. Coached by Fernando Diniz, who is also the interim coach of Brazil, the team finally won the Grail after losing its only final on penalties in 2008 against the Ecuadorian club LDU Quito.