In the stifling heat of Asunción, the Academy won the title after beating Cruzeiro 3-1. Since the 1988 Super Cup, when Gustavo Costas was a player, the club has not won a continental crown.
It didn’t look like Asunción. It was Avellaneda. The neutral venue for the Copa Sudamericana final felt more like an extension of Argentina, with the light blue and white colors clearly marking a hegemony. That said, Racing has made itself at home. This Saturday, under the stifling heat that consumed the Paraguayan capital, The Academy became the new champions of the second Conmebol club tournament. They beat Brazilian Cruzeiro 3-1.
Various press reports indicated that almost 50,000 Albiceleste fans traveled to Asunción for the final. This collective madness had an obvious explanation: it was the club’s first international final for 32 years. In addition, the last continental cup won by the Argentine club dates back 36 years, where the current coach Gustavo Costas played. In other words, a whole generation had no idea what the racing champion was at the South American level.
It was a special final for Gabriel Arias, the captain of the Academy. It was his first international definition, passing through the maturity of his sporting career, becoming a reference for the institution. So much so that at La Nueva Olla stadium, home of Cerro Porteño, Many trans-Andean fans were seen wearing the green jersey usually worn by the naturalized Chilean goalkeeper. Even though it was a neutral scenario, Racing was clearly local.
The start for the Argentines was exciting. He mixed intensity and focus, effectively. In fact, they found the first goal in the 7th minute thanks to Gastón Martirena, who appeared free on the right wing and scored at the near post of goalkeeper Cássio (the same one that was historic for Corinthians). The action was checked by VAR and ultimately called off for offside. The first controversy of the final.
Martirena’s revenge took place in the 15th minute. He attempts a cross from the right sector and the ball passes behind the humanity of Cássio, to score a superb goal for 1-0. Five minutes later the score was 2-0 thanks to the opportunism of Adrián “Maravilla” Martínez. Racing’s 9 followed up with a low performance from Maximiliano Salas (former Palestino) at the far post to widen the difference and ignite the effervescent Albiceleste supporters.
Racing concentrated and totally involved in the game, facing a disoriented Cruzeiro. Meanwhile, on the ground, Gustavo Costas lives the game intensely, as usual. He runs, demands, shouts, celebrates goals as if the world was going to end and even prays. An emblem of the institution, a supporter in the position of coach, who on his return to the institution promised to win an international cup.
Due to what happened in the first half, the outlook for the Belo Horizonte team was worrying, as they had no place to enter the fight for the final. However, in the 53rd minute, the Brazilians scored in added time, thanks to Kaio Jorge, capturing the ball after a good intervention from Arias against a header.
The students of Fernando Diniz (coach of the 2023 Libertadores champion with Fluminense) outlined a reaction, a lukewarm awakening to give a dose of uncertainty to the match. The races began to show exhaustion. The physical exertion and heat affected the Academy, which opened a window for those who wore blue shirts. This second wind was not enough.
The Argentina team He withstood the heat and even reached 3-1, thanks to a goal from Roger Martínez in added time and won the Copa Sudamericana title, their first continental trophy since the 1988 South American Super Cup. A long debt of one of the five big teams of the neighboring country is settled. Additionally, he qualifies for Libertadores 2025 and secures a place in the Cup Winners’ Cup final, awaiting the final between Atlético Mineiro and Botafogo.
Source: Latercera
I’m Scott Moore, a professional writer and journalist based in the US. I’ve been writing for various publications for over 8 years now, and have been working as an author at athletistic for the past five years. My work has been featured by some of the leading sports websites and magazines across Europe.
