The Brazilians overturned the game against the Argentines in the very last minutes, winning their first Continental Cup in thirty-eight years.
Amazing scenario in Lima, Saturday, November 23, when two goals of Gabriel Barbosa, in the very last minutes of the match, brought the Flamengo Brazilians to victory in Copa Libertadores against the Argentineans of River Plate (2-1). The club of Rio de Janeiro has been waiting for the title for thirty-eight years, its last victory in the Continental Cup (South American equivalent of the Champions League) dating back to 1981 and the golden generation led by Zico.
Colombian Rafael Santos Borré opened the scoring for the Argentine team (14e minute):
#CopaLibertadores 🏆 GOAL OF RAFAEL SANTOS BORRE! River that marks on his first real opportunity. After a center … https://t.co/JVfhv9B6b7
But Gabriel Barbosa, nicknamed Gabigol, reversed the situation (89e then 92e minute):
#CopaLibertadores 🏆 BUUUUUT OF BARBOSA! Flamengo equalizes at the end of the match. Henrique serves De Arrascaeta who o … https://t.co/0Qj1AlRlMK
#CopaLibertadores 🏆 SECOND BUUUUUT OF BARBOSA IN 3 MINUTES! What a crazy scenario! Flamengo who overthrows the … https://t.co/03bDqqXGbM
Liesse in Rio and in many cities of the country
Thousands of kilometers away, at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, tens of thousands of Flamengo supporters who watched the giant-screen event exploded with joy at the final whistle, while a horn concert started in the streets, under heavy rain. "I'm 32 years old and I've been waiting for this moment all my life, this is the first time I see Flamengo being champion of the Libertadores", said Suyana, a lawyer. "It was hard, but that's how we like to win. Here we are for Flamengo until death "exclaimed Rodrigo da Silva, another fan at the Maracana.
The club has millions of fans throughout the Brazilian territory, scenes of jubilation were also seen in many other cities in the country. Right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro, although a supporter of Palmeiras, congratulated the winners on Twitter. "Bravo Flamengo, Copa Libertadores champion. Moving and historical match. That's it, football, he said.
Badly six months ago, Brazil's most popular club was relaunched by Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, who lost just two games in 32 games. He could celebrate another title in twenty-four hours: leader of the national championship, Flamengo will be officially sacred Sunday if his dolphin Palmeiras does not prevail in the afternoon against Gremio.
However, the disappointment is cruel for the River Marcelo Gallardo, who held his third title in five years (after 2015 and 2018), the fifth in its history, until the 89e minute of play
This final was held without major security incidents. Last year, the violence that had hit Buenos Aires had forced the South American confederation to choose Madrid for the final return between the two rival Argentine clubs, River Plate and Boca Juniors.
This time it was the Chilean social crisis that forced the Conmebol to make a last-minute change. Expected in Santiago, this final was postponed in extremis in Lima, which had never before hosted the epilogue of Copa Libertadores.
