Deyverson sent Fluminense home

Deyversonan old acquaintance of Spanish football, sent home Fluminensechampion of Libertadores Cup 2023, and, with two decisive goals in the second half, he put the Atlético Mineiro in the semifinals, where they will face each other River Plate. The former Deportivo Alavés, Levante and Getafe player came off the bench before half-time and scored a double to reverse the heavy defeat the Belo Horizonte team received last week at the Maracaná (1-0 ).

They had to suffer to make it 2-0 and complete the comeback, which only came in the 89th minute, with a cross from Hulk that Deyverson pushed into the net at the Arena MRV. Bad game for the champions, who now have to focus on not being relegated to the second division of the Brazilian Championship.

Atlético Mineiro’s defeat started in the first minute. The team led by Argentine Gabriel Milito deservedly went into the break with more than a 0-0 lead as they did everything they could to score a goal. In the 7th minute, Hulk did not receive a penalty due to a handball by Colombian Jhon Arias. Fábio, with more than 100 Libertadores games under his belt, guessed the edge and stopped the shot.

But the harassment did not end there. Fluminense was unable to keep the ball for more than five seconds. Gustavo Scarpa, an improvised winger on the right, worked his way through, putting in crosses and bombarding Fábio’s goal. Guilherme Arana also advanced from the left and Battaglia hit the post with a shot from outside the area.

The Rio team, overwhelmed at all times, only created some danger with a header from Thiago Silva and a finish from Kauã Elias. Too little for a team that bases its game on possession. Milito was fed up with the lack of goals and took advantage of Bernard’s injury before the break to bring on another center forward, Deyverson, a true survivor in the area.

He had little to leave his mark on the game. Another cross from Scarpa and the 33-year-old striker, an expert in crucial events, beat Thiago Silva and headed into the back of the net.

The former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain player missed, and Deyverson’s header also bounced off his back. Tie tie with almost the entire second half ahead. Fábio reappeared to prevent the inevitable by deflecting a shot from Scarpa that went straight into the top corner. The 43-year-old goalkeeper was also well placed on Paulinho’s two shots that smelled like goals.

Mineiro felt the effort and slowed down in the last minute of the second half. Punishments seemed inevitable, but he kept pushing and found the prize. Because Hulk invented a cross at the far post and Deyverson was there to stretch and turn the tie. The Brazilian striker was the undisputed hero and was even emotional on the pitch.

TECHNICAL SHEET

2 – Atlético Mineiro: Everson; Guilherme Arana, Lyanco, Battaglia, Junior Alonso, Gustavo Scarpa (m.97, Igor Rabello); Fausto Vera, Alan Franco, Bernard (d.45, Deyverson); Paulinho (m.92, Rubens) and Hulk
Coach: Gabriel Milito
0 – Fluminense: Fábio; Samuel Xavier (m.75, Guga), Thiago Silva, Thiago Santos, Diogo Barbosa (m.57, Marcelo); Facundo Bernal, Martinelli, Ganso (m.75, Lima), Jhon Arias; Kevin Serna (m.57, Antônio Carlo) and Kauã Elias (m.65, Germán Cano)
Coach: Mano Menezes
Objectives: 1-0, Deyverson (m. 50); 2-0, Deyverson (m. 89)
Referee: Colombian Wilmar Roldán warned Hulk, Bernard, Deyverson, Bernal, Fábio and Martinelli.
Events: second leg of the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores, played at the Arena MRV stadium, in Belo Horizonte, before 43,659 spectators.