Flamengo Edged River Plate to the Copa Libertadores Title

Flamengo edged River Plate to the Copa Libertadores title. The Brazilian Side, Flamengo defeated the Argentinian side, River Plate dramatically with two late goals to win the 2019 Copa Libertadores final held on Saturday,  in the Peruvian capital Lima. Earlier to Saturday’s victory, Flamengo last won the Copa Libertadores final in 1981.

This year’s edition of Copa Libertadores is the first final to be settled by one match. The Copa Champion has been selected by a two-legs final match, with the chance of both teams playing in front of their home fans but recent violence led to the change of format. Last year, River and national rival Boca Juniors played the second leg of the final in Madrid, Spain. River Plate fans had attacked the bus carrying the Boca squad outside the host stadium in Buenos Aires. From 1960 to 1979, the Copa Libertadores Finals were decided over three matches.

In a  stroke of esoteric cynicism, Flamengo’s Gabriel Barbosa  went to touch the Copa Libertadores Trophy before the start of the game, prompting social media jokes that the striker had jinxed his team and they may likely lose the match because touching a final before a final match could lead to losing the match but Barbosa was vindicated and rewarded with two goals.

Calling the Game

River Plate started the match on the offensive with a first half goal from Rafael Santos Borre’ but Flamengo drew level at the 87^th minute with a close-range effort from Gabriel Barbosa.

The 23 years old striker pounced again to put the ball past River Plate Goalkeeper, Franco Armani, for Flamengo’s second goal.

The River Plate came after a series of flawed defensive play by Flamengo and Rafael Santos Borres eventually capitalized on one of the defensive errors to put the ball past Flamengo’s Goalkeeper, Diego Alves. River Plate was very organized in the first half, and their defensive doggedness was very frustrating to Flamengo players, and that nearly yielded result, with Rafael Santos Borres came close to scoring the second time.

Flamengo had their moments of flash domination in the first half with former Everton Player Ribeiro, came close to scoring an equalizer with a close-range direct shot but was saved by the River Plate Goalkeeper, Franco Armani.

Loss Amidst Victory

Both teams suffered losses and were reduced to ten-men, with Gabriel Barbosa sent off late into the football match after scoring two goals for Flamengo.

He picked up his second yellow card by sarcastically applauding the Chilean referee, Roberto Tobar. River Plate also finished the game with 10 men as Ezequiel Palacios was giving a red card for kicking Bruno Henrique while the Flamengo player was on the floor in the game’s chaotic final moments.

The social unrest in Chile also meant that Santiago, the Chilean Capital lost out to Lima, the Peruvian Capital in hosting the Final as the Copa Libertadores was moved from Chile to Peru because of the violent protest.

Consequence of Victory

Flamengo will now fly the flag of South America in this year’s Club World Cup in December in Qatar, where they will face Liverpool, the Champions League winner, who defeated Tottenham Hotspur in June.

This will be a repeat of the 1981 Intercontinental Cup where Flamengo, having won the Copa Libertadores went on to beat Liverpool 3-0 in the final of the Intercontinental Cup.