Striker Gabriel Barbosa was once again the hero of “Mengao” with a goal in the added fourth minute of the first half, three years after giving the “torcida” from Rio de Janeiro the 2019 title, against River.
Already acclaimed as a legend of “Fla”, “Gabigol” took advantage of an oversight by a Paranaense that complicated the favorite until the expulsion of central defender Pedro Henrique, ending the first half.
With a team full of stars, such as striker Pedro and Uruguayan Giorgian de Arrascaeta, Dorival Júnior obtained his first continental title as manager, after a 20-year career consolidating the image of a respected coach, although little winner, and attached to the good game .
A hug between smiles from Dorival Júnior and his colleague Luiz Felipe Scolari announced what would be a battle between two wise men of Brazilian football.
Convinced that Flamengo could make a mistake at any moment, Felipao had assured in the preview that the single-match format could benefit his team, which has become a “giant killer” in this edition of Libertadores -eliminating Libertad, Estudiantes de La Plata and the current two-time champion Palmeiras-.
Dressed in white for this occasion, Paranaense withdrew into his field with discipline awaiting a mistake by the rival.
Thus, making special use of the fissures left by the opposing center-back David Luiz and the irreverence of the young striker Vitor Roque, he began by visiting the Santos goal with greater determination.
Dorival Júnior’s extravagant proposal crashed against the “Furacão” wall.
He even came, without success, to leave the start of the plays in the hands of the central defenders who carried the ball to the middle of the field. Wayward right-back Rodinei got ahead of striker Gabriel Barbosa amid attempts to score a goal.
The ghosts hovered over the “Fla”, which acquired the fame of destroying during the first phases of the tournaments and failing in the final matches. Last year he had lost the final against Palmeiras.
In the Monumental Stadium, without full capacity although with an extensive Flamengo fan base, the duel was hand in hand.
The doctrine imposed by Scolari, world champion in 2002, collapsed when halftime loomed (43 minutes). Pedro Henrique brought down Ayrton Lucas and Argentine referee Patricio Loustau showed him the red card for a double yellow.
The image of the central taking his face with his hands predicted the misfortune that was coming for the Brazilian hurricane.
Four minutes after the expulsion, Flamengo used the extra man and scored the first goal through a combination between Rodinei, Éverton Ribeiro and Gabigol, who pushed the ball after a pass from the Rubronegro captain from the right wing.
One of the players most booed by the “torcida” of Paranaense shut up in his face the spot of fans that came mainly from the state of Paraná to the economic capital of Ecuador. Ecuadorian fans sneaked into that stand to support the weakest team on the field.
This Saturday’s is the second redemption for the indomitable “Gabigol”, who with a double at 90 + 2 and 90 + 5 reversed the Libertadores final in 2019 against the Argentine River Plate.
At that time it was Flamengo’s greatest glory in 32 years, motivated by a striker who emerged from Santos and with a step to forgetting Europe between 2016 and 2018.
Three weeks before Qatar-2022, it was a message addressed to the coach Tite, who does not have Flamengo’s new darling among the fundamentals of the ‘Canarinha’.
Paranaense’s spark faded as evening fell, contrary to what it had shown during the championship. To get here they had qualified with last-minute goals in the round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals.
In Guayaquil, the decision was a defeat for Scolari, the award-winning and veteran coach who could have directed his last international match to dedicate himself to sports management.
One of the most dangerous cities in the region due to the presence of drug traffickers witnessed the entry of “Fla” to the select group of Brazilians who have won three Libertadores, along with Gremio, Santos, Sao Paulo and Palmeiras.
Also the consolidation of Brazilian dominance in the tournament. The last three finals have been between teams from that country.
The South American giant (with 21) is close to Argentina (25) in the classification of nations with the most champions of the continent’s main tournament.
Source: Ambito
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