Free Valley He already has ‘Maracanazo’. The Ecuadorian team won the first one South American Cup Winners’ Cup after defeating a Flamengo in a penalty shootout (4-5) with Uruguayan hero and villain Giorgian de Arrascaeta.
Argentine Martín Anselmi’s team resisted the onslaught of ‘Fla’ at the Maracana, although a goal from De Arrascaeta in the last minute of the discount neutralized the 1-0 win in the first leg, in Quito, and took the final in extra time and, then in penalties.
That’s when goalkeeper Moisés Ramírez, who was the best in the game, appeared to stop the Uruguayan midfielder from Flamengo’s only missed penalty. Independiente Del Valle scored all five and were proclaimed champions.
Vítor Pereira’s team deserved more, but Ramírez’s performance and the lack of inspiration from the attacking line thwarted any comeback attempt. This is the third title the Portuguese coach has missed since he took over the red and black bench in December 2022. He lost the Brazilian Super Cup to Palmeiras and was disappointed at the FIFA Club World Cup, where he was eliminated in the semifinals by Saudi. Al Hilal.
Independiente del Valle, for its part, added its first South American Cup Winners’ Cup and completed its revenge against Flamengo, which it could not overcome in the 2020 edition.
The match was total dominance for the Libertadores champion. Despite heavy rain, Everton Ribeiro and De Arrascaeta made the local team. But Ramírez was there, a huge one. The Ecuadorian goalkeeper stopped everything that came at him and also allied himself with the sticks of his goal.
‘Fla’ crashed into the wood twice, almost in the same minute. First, Thiago Maia, after a free kick taken by De Arrascaeta; and later, Ayrton Lucas, with a header through the middle of Everton Ribeiro. Ramírez reappeared to make his own futsal save on a low shot from Varela. The South American champion breathed a sigh of relief and forgot about the attack.
The only time he appeared in the rival area was when launching a long free kick charged by Alcívar. The rest of the time, bent over, narrowing the gaps and enduring the flamenco outpouring.
The best help could come from his rival, with Arturo Vidal at risk of his dismissal before the break. The Chilean almost handed them the title on a platter with a tackle on Carabajal, who he tried to lift off the ground by force and grabbed him by the neck.
VAR didn’t make a decision and it stayed with the yellow cards for both. At the restart, Flamengo deflated. The momentum of the first half was lost and panic began to spread.
De Arrascaeta and Everton Ribeiro continued to lead the red and black ship, but the mobility was not the same. In 20 minutes, Flamengo finished just once. Maracana is starting to get bored. It was difficult for Pereira to introduce the first changes. The first choice was Gerson and Everton ‘Cebolinha’.
Finally it was De Arrascaeta, in the 96th minute, who kept Flamengo alive after finishing a cross by Everton Cebolinha. Maracana fell. The Uruguayan has not scored since October last year in the ‘Fla’ shirt.
In extra time, the dominance of the locals continued. But physical exhaustion took its toll and the final went to penalties, with De Arrascaeta dressing up as a villain by missing the first and opening the doors of glory to Independiente del Valle.
DATA SHEET
1 -Flamingos: saints; Varela (m.82 Matheuzinho), Fabrício Bruno, David Luiz, Ayrton Lucas (m.112 Marinho); Thiago Maia (m.72 Everton), Arturo Vidal (m.72 Gerson), Éverton Ribeiro (m.81 Matheus Gonçalves), Giorgian de Arrascaeta; Gabriel Barbosa and Pedro (d.112 Mateusao)
Coach: Vitor Pereira
0 -Valley Independent: Moises Ramirez; Mateo Carabajal, Richard Schunke, Agustin Garcia; Matías Fernández (m.92 Mercado), Cristian Pellerano (m.99 Previtali), Lorenzo Faravelli, Beder Caicedo (m.99 Cortez); Alcívar (m.62 Kevin Rodríguez); Júnior Sornoza (m.72 Holes) and Lautaro Díaz (m.72 Landázuri)
Coach: Martin Anselmi
Purpose: 1-0, De Arrascaeta (d. 96)
Referee: the Uruguayan Andrés Matonte. He advised Pellerano, Everton Ribeiro, Vidal, Maia, Carabajal, Alcívar, Varela, David Luiz, Faravelli and Ramírez
Incidents: second leg of the South American Cup Winners’ Cup final, played at the Maracana stadium, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, before 71,411 spectators
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
