The final of the Copa Libertadores already has its two finalists, both Brazilians: Palmeiras and Santos
SANTOS — River Plate and Boca Juniors yielded to the power of Palm Trees and Santos, who will play in the final of the 61st edition of the Copa Libertadores on January 30 at the Maracana and incidentally returned hegemony to Brazil, which had not been seen since 2006 when Internacional and Sao Paulo contested the title.
El Santos, champion in 1962 and 1963 with SkinAnd the last time in 2011, he sealed his classification impeccably on Wednesday by beating Boca Juniors 3-0, which on January 6 had already let a significant part of the loot escape by allowing a goalless draw at La Bombonera.
Diego Pituca, Lucas Braga and the Venezuelan Yeferson Soteldo sentenced today with their goals at the Vila Belmiro stadium a match that was relatively comfortable for the pupils of coach Alexi Stival ‘Cuca’ against a lackluster rival.
To further muddy things for the team led by Miguel Ángel Russo, from 56 minutes he had to play with 10 due to the expulsion of Colombian side Frank Fabra.
In the other series, the superlative performance of the Palm Trees With which he thrashed River Plate 0-3 in Buenos Aires on January 5, it was not seen on Tuesday in Sao Paulo, but the income was enough to eliminate the Argentine team in a pyrotechnic return match, which touched the epic by winning 0-2.
Robert Rojas and Rafael Santos Borré made believe with their goals that the epic was possible. Those of Marcelo Gallardo, who reigned in the court of the Portuguese Abel Ferreira’s pupils still with ten players, suffered with the VAR, which annulled a goal and a penalty already awarded by the referee Esteban Ostojich, and also denied the request of another In the last minute.
Palm Trees He will play for the fifth time in his history the final of the Copa Libertadores, which only in 1999 gave him the title at the expense of the Colombian Deportivo Cali.
The 2020 Libertadores edition that will conclude on January 30, will be remembered as the first in which River, with Marcelo gallardo on the bench, he lost a round trip series to a Brazilian team in Conmebol competitions.
River and Gallardo they won six: four for the Copa Libertadores, one for the South American Cup and one for the Recopa. The classification of scorers in the Copa Libertadores was practically served for the Ecuadorian Fidel Martínez, who scored eight goals, but was eliminated early from the competition with Barcelona, a team with which he no longer plays.
Only the Colombian Santos Borré could be disturbed by marking the seventh of his account, but he will not attend the final appointment in Rio de Janeiro.
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