Flamengo visit Lanús in Argentina on Thursday in the Recopa Sudamericana first leg, 14 years on from meetings that brought drama and pain.
According to Globo.com, their first clash came in 2012 in the Libertadores group stage in Argentina, a 1-1 draw. Léo Moura put Flamengo ahead late in the first half, Carranza equalised after the interval.
The return was the final group game in Rio at Estádio Nilton Santos. Lanús had already qualified, while Flamengo were bottom of Group 2 and needed a win plus an Olimpia v Emelec draw to progress.
Flamengo did their part with a 3-0 victory through Welinton, Deivid and Luiz Antônio, then heard Olimpia had levelled at 47 minutes. One minute later Emelec scored again, won 3-2 and extinguished Flamengo’s hopes.
Ronaldinho Gaúcho shone against Lanús with two assists, his last outstanding display for the club. He played only three more matches, against Vasco, Sport and Internacional, before terminating his deal and joining Atlético-MG.
Léo Moura became an enduring image of the night, listening to Fox Sports via reporter Luciano Calheiros’s earpiece as results came in. After Emelec’s late winner he removed the headphones, voiced his disappointment and walked off.
New arrival Vagner Love was in tears on the pitch, inconsolable. Deivid, Botinelli and goalkeeper Felipe looked stunned.
Both arrive as reigning Copa Sudamericana and Libertadores champions. The sides meet at 21:30 Brasília time, with the second leg at the Maracanã next Thursday.
