October 24 – Once again the Copa Libertadores is heading for an all-Brazilian final after Botafogo and Atletico Mineiro won the first legs of their semi-finals convincingly.
On Wednesday, the Rio club dispatched Penarol of Uruguay 5-0 with all goals coming in the second half to all but qualify for their first-ever Libertadores final. The hosts were nervous in the first half, but three goals in the space of eight minutes shortly after the break changed the entire tie.
Jefferson Savarino scored a brace with strikes from Luiz Henrique, Alexander Barboza and Igor Jesus completing the scoreline. Henrique and Jesus, who recently made a name for themselves with the national team, were involved in three of Botafogo’s five goals.
With great positional play, the team demonstrated they can dismantle deep-lying defences as the Uruguayans played with six at the back.
“One of the important issues regarding offensive positioning was being able to dismantle the line of six, with a lower block,” said Botafogo manager Artur Amorim. “We tried to slightly increase the distance they would need to run.”
“As well as speed when moving the ball. We were quick in recovery and execution. Then we had 10 very good minutes, with efficient finishing and we scored three goals in 10 minutes to change the dynamics of the game.”
In the 1960s, Botafogo were, together with Pelé’s Santos, the most powerful club in Brazil with two dynasties that spanned a decade of success and player personnel that included Didi, Zagallo, Gerson and Jairzinho. Yet, the club never conquered South America.
That might change on November 30 when Buenos Aires stages South America’s flagship club final. However, host club River Plate could miss out after losing their semi-final first leg 3-0 against Belo Horizonte outfit Atletico Mineiro.
Deyverson, twice, and Paulo Henrique scored for the Brazilian club, paving the way for what would be the fourth all-Brazilian affair in the past seasons.
Last year, River Plate’s crosstown rivals Boca Juniors finished runners-up in the competition, following defeat to Fluminense in the final.
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