Epic in capital letters at Allianz Parque in Sao Paulo. The palm treescurrent two-time champion of Libertadores Cupbattled two players short of regulation time and advanced this Wednesday to the semifinals in a penalty shootout 6-5 against Atlético Mineiro.
In a Brazil clash charged with tension, the team led by Portuguese Abel Ferreira was supported by the immeasurable figure of their goalkeeper, Brazilian international Wéverton, who stopped the side’s decisive penalty that Rubens.
They are the two most difficult games for the team from São Paulo so far in the competition. They drew 2-2 in extremis in the first leg and tonight will be held 0-0 in front of their fans, after Danilo (m.29) and Gustavo Scarpa (m.81) were sent off for straight red cards . Athletico Paranaense or Estudiantes de La Plata await in the semis.
Atlético Mineiro lacked strength in the final meters, partly because the Hulk was not the Hulk. The veteran Brazilian striker was far from his best version, like the entire team of Belo Horizonte, which also ended with one person missing, after the expulsion of Chilean Eduardo Vargas (m.96).
Wednesday’s game was a show of caution by both contenders. Mineiro tried to mark the ground early by pressing the ball out from Palmeiras, gradually taking the pulse of the clash.
Arana saved with great difficulty a low cross from Dudu to the far post before Scarpa finished, who would try a few minutes later with a cross shot into the balcony of the area.
But everyone exploded with the expulsion of Danilo. The 21-year-old Brazilian midfielder went into Zaracho’s twin with his boot, a careless action that was punished by a yellow card by Colombian Wilmar Roldán, a decision that was corrected by VAR.
With numerical superiority, Cuca asked his students for the “head”. The gaps appeared on their own. Mariano began to be more present in the right lane, although the locals did not fight and held until the break.
In continuation, the same tonic. Abel Ferreira’s men are well bent back and await a deadly counter, while Albinegro’s team is looking for a goal that seems certain. It rested on the head of Jair, who appeared just inside the area. Zaracho and Alonso ran at Wéverton, always well placed.
The pressure from the visitors was becoming more noticeable, but they continued to show a worrying lack of success. Even with the entry of Argentine creative Nacho Fernández and Chilean striker Eduardo Vargas the situation did not improve.
Palmeiras will make life more complicated with a new dismissal, that of Gustavo Scarpa, after leaving his foot (and the studs) on Allan’s ankle. This time he didn’t think about it and Roldán showed the red card without the help of VAR.
In the final minutes sparks flew between the two squads, which almost went to hands. In injury time, Hulk missed one very clear and hit another off the post in an unmarked centre. There was still time to get Vargas sent off for a double yellow card, for his angry protests inches from the referee’s face.
The final whistle was a relief for Palmeiras, who ended the tie on penalties to continue to dream of extending their reign.
DATA SHEET
0 – Palmeiras: Weverton; Marcos Rocha (m.88 Mayke), Gustavo Gómez, Murilo, Joaquín Piquerez; Danilo, Ze Rafael, Raphael Veiga, Gustavo Scarpa; Dudu (m.88 Luan) and Rony
Coach: Abel Ferreira
0 – Atletico Mineiro: Everson; Mariano, Nathan Silva, Júnior Alonso, Guilherme Arana (m.74 Rubens); Allan, Jair, Matías Zaracho (m.74 Eduardo Sasha); Keno (m.79 Eduardo Vargas), Ademir (m.54 Nacho Fernández) and Hulk
Coach: Alexi Stival “Cuca”
penalty shootout: 0-1: Hulk, goal. 1-1: Veiga, goal. 1-2: Fernandez, goal. 2-2: Gomez, goal. 2-3: Jair, goal. 3-3: Rafael, goal. 3-4: Sasha, goal. 4-4: Piquerez, goal. 4-5: Alonso, goal. 5-5: Rony, goal. 5-5: Rubens, for Weverton. 6-5: Murilo, goal
Referee: Colombian Wilmar Roldán sent off Danilo (m.29), Scarpa (m.81) and Vargas (m.96), and yellow carded Nathan Silva, Arana, Zaracho, Gómez, Dudú and Hulk
Incidents: second leg of the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores, played at the Allianz Parque stadium, in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo, before 40,433 spectators
Source: La Verdad
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