November 25 – Argentina’s Racing claimed their first Copa Sudamericana by defeating Cruzeiro of Brazil 3-1 in the competition’s final on Saturday.
It won’t be a clean sweep of Brazilian victories in this season’s South American club finals after Cruzeiro failed to land the continent’s second-tier club prize. The club from Belo Horizonte succumbed to first-half goals from Gaston Martirena and Adrian Martinez at the Estadio General Pablo Rojas in Asuncion, Paraguay.
In the final minutes of the showpiece match, Roger Martinez sealed the win with Racing’s third after Kaio Jorge had reduced the Argentinians’ advantage.
“We suffered until the last minute, but to be able to win a cup after so many years is a blessing,” said Martinez. “It’s historic, it was a long time without being able to raise an international cup, we have had a poor year in the league, but we were able to give the fans this satisfaction.”
A victory for Cruzeiro would have been a remarkable feat for Cruzeiro manager Fernando Diniz, who led Fluminense to the Copa Libertadores title last season. His time in Minas Gerais has been difficult with just two wins from 11 matches.
“It is very important for Cruzeiro to return to the final of a championship as important as the Copa Sudamericana, after so long,” said Diniz. “It is a team that, this year, had an excellent spell in the Brazilian Championship, then suffered a decline, and has fluctuated more in results than in performance in games.”
He said he was not worried about his future.
Next Saturday, the South American club season culminates with the final of Copa Libertadores in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Botafogo will start as favourites against Atletico Mineiro, Cruzeiro’s crosstown rivals, in an all-Brazilian affair. The winner will claim a ticket for this year’s FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
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