Athletico Paranaense won the 2021 edition of the Copa Sudamericana this Saturday in Montevideo by beating Bragantino 1-0 thanks to a goal from Nikao. With an acrobatic pirouette, the forward solved the final of Brazilian teams played before some 10,000 fans in the rejuvenated Centenario Stadium.
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Colombian defender Nicolás Hernández, former National and former Santa Fe, played in the champion club, who celebrated with his tricolor flag. He played 75 minutes.
Between lights and music, the hot day of the capital of the South American country opened with a show that made the thousands of fans who came to the Centenario stadium dance. Minutes later, the show was in charge of the 22 protagonists, who took to the field determined to write a new page in the great history of continental football.
On the Paranaense side, the coach, Alberto Valentim, opted for an eleven with three defenders, four midfielders and three attackers. In this way, the technical director, who on this day made his debut at the head of ‘Furacao’ in the present South American, kept the tactical drawing that Paulo Autuori had used in the semifinals.
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In the Bragantino, Mauricio Barbieri could not count on Eric Ramírez and instead gave entry to Helinho. The day before, during the press conference, the coach announced that this could happen and warned that his team was “prepared, trained and organized” to play.
Take and give me, at the beginning of the end
In the first minutes of play, Bragantino handled the ball and generated their best options for the left sector of the attack. At full speed, Edimar and Helinho complicated Paranaense, who fell back and put their eleven players on their own field. For one and two, the Argentine Tomás Cuello was close to converting with shots that did not turn into a goal for very little.
Encouraged by a ‘crooked’ that did not stop in his breath, the Paranaense went ahead and lit the alarms of goalkeeper Cleiton. A distant shot and a counterattack led by Kayzer were just a sample of what would happen moments later.
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At 28 minutes, after the Bragantino goalkeeper showed off an impressive save, a pirouette from Nikao sent the ball to the back of the goal and made it 1-0. On the court, the figure of ‘Furacao’ celebrated by hugging his teammates.
In the stands, the fans shouted and continued singing under the Tower of Tributes located in one of the stands of the World Football Historic Monument. In this way, the first half went with a 1-0 victory for the team that had already conquered the Sudamericana in the 2018 season.
Bragantino tried
At the beginning of the second half, Bragantino again took the reins of the game and approached the rival goal with many centers.
Paranaense retreated again and opted for a backlash that never came. With many touches in the middle of the field and several fouls, the meeting lowered its revolutions, something that favored ‘Furacao’.
Artur’s left leg shot could tie the game, but the shot was lost outside. This was the clearest play that the forward had, one of the figures of his team and one of the top scorers in this South American.
With several changes, the Bragantino launched the attack to seek equality in the final moments. His rival defended the advantage with a defense that once again had captain Thiago Heleno one of the figures. After 90 minutes, the referee marked the end and there was no time for more.
Athletico Paranaense won the Copa Sudamericana in Montevideo and became the first Brazilian team to achieve “the great conquest” on two occasions.
Synthesis
1. Athletico Paranaense: Santos; Pedro Henrique, Thiago Heleno, Nicolás Hernández (d.74, Zé Ivaldo); Marcinho, Erick (d.82, Fernando Canesin), Léo Cittadini (d.94, Nicolas), Abner; Nikao, Kayzer (m.74, Pedro Rocha) and David Terans (m.74, Christian). Entrenator: Alberto Valentim
0. Red Bull Bragantino: Cleiton; Aderlan, Fabricio Bruno, Leo Ortiz, Edimar (m.75, Luan); Praxedes (m.81, Alerrandro), Jadsom, Tomás Cuello (m.81, Gabriel Novaes); Artur (d.87, Leandrinho), Ytalo (d.87, Jan Hurtado) and Helinho. Entrepreneur: Mauricio Barbieri.
Goals: 1-0: m.28, Nikao.
EFE
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