The big income of the Chilean team, which scored for Atlético Mineiro, was not enough for Galo. Fogao, who was playing with one less from the start of the match, won 3-1 and won the continent’s first title in an unprecedented manner. He was the only great Brazilian who lacked this star.
Facing an unstoppable hegemony of Brazilian football in the Copa Libertadores, there was nothing new when it came to determining where the continent’s most relevant scepter went at club level. However, the news has to do with the unprecedented consecration of a team with a lot of history but which lacked something to sit at the same table with the other giants of the South American giant. Botafogo is the new king of America. They beat Atlético Mineiro 3-1 and touched the sky for the first time.
The imposing Monumental de Buenos Aires hosted the final, in which its stands were dyed black and white, as the two clubs share the colors. Even if there was a certain fear of not taking over the venue since no Argentine team was present (especially River), the atmosphere was there. It was like an extension of the Brasileirao experienced on the other side of the mountain range, notably with the stellar and surprising presence of Novak Djokovic.
If finals tend to be close matches, where not much happens for fear of losing, here the exact opposite happened. It was a match where everything happened, an ideal scenario for the neutral supporter: the goals, the sending-offs, the occasional controversy and the uncertainty until the end. Eduardo Vargas was the Chilean representative in the definition contributing for Galo in the second half.
No one was betting that the final would start with an expulsion in the first minute. But that’s how it was. Gregore, one of Fogao’s central midfielders, commits an offense that is as disqualifying as it is unjustifiable at the start of the match. He raises his foot and hits Fausto Vera in the head. The Argentine referee Facundo Tello shows him a direct red card. Disbelief for the Cariocas, who find themselves with one less while the whole match awaits them. Presumably the match would change.
Mineiro took possession of the ball, while Botafogo was forced to retreat into their territory. The talented members of the team (Luiz Henrique, Savarino, Almada and Igor Jesus) had to sacrifice themselves with one less. Despite this scenario, Portuguese Artur Jorge’s team did not suffer. Galo’s control was boring, with no dangerous opportunities in the area John defended. If the duel had a break with the expulsion of Gregore, it suffered another with the 1-0 from Fogao.
In the 35th minute, Luiz Henrique (former student of Manuel Pellegrini at Betis) opened the scoring. He had the ball in the box and he fired a left-footed shot past Everson. The last part of the first half was reserved for the Cariocas, where the disadvantage of playing with 10 was not noticeable at all. The outlook would improve with the penalty. Judge Tello goes to the VAR to examine a possible penalty from goalkeeper Everson against Luiz Henrique. The goalkeeper takes the attacker in front of him and knocks him down. Fault and maximum penalty. Alex Telles executes and makes the score 2-0.
Vargas’s entrance
Even though Mineiro didn’t benefit from the presence of an extra man, Botafogo outmatched them in attitude and energy. The casting of Gabriel Milito was on the canvas, on the verge of knockout. Early in the second half, Galo shook the tree with three changes. One of them was Eduardo Vargas, who was playing in his first Libertadores final.
The entry of the Chilean team was successful because they scored. In the 47th minute, Hulk takes a corner, which finds Turboman free in the area to head in and convert. Vargas’ first goal of the 2024 edition came at just the right time, to bring his team back into the fight for the final, just when everything seemed to indicate that he would not continue with the club in 2025.
The Belo Horizonte team took the joystick of the game and didn’t let go. He went on the offensive, gathering more people in his offensive zone. Vargas and Deyverson set up in the center of the zone, with Bernard and Hulk on the outside. Botafogo only managed to defend and maintain a minimal advantage. The duel entered a zone of stress and nervousness, with one team seeking equality and the other trying to maintain the wall it had erected.
The Red player entered the game very well. And he almost found a tie. In the 86th minute, he missed the shot on his own, with a shot that skimmed the crossbar. Shortly after, he had another, but it ended poorly and precipitously, rising. A duel with a dramatic epilogue ended up crowning a Botafogo team which put on the combination in the second 45′. He won it with a pure heart and a dose of fortune. In overtime, Júnior Santos made it 3-1.
The Rio de Janeiro club is the 27th champion in the history of the Copa Libertadores. But the most important thing for the institution concerns the repayment of a debt: It was the only big team in Brazil without the supreme scepter in its windows. Now, the 12 big teams of the South American giant have won the Cup Complete card. In addition, it becomes the last qualifying match for the 2025 Club World Cup.
Match sheet
Atlético Mineiro : Everson; Lyanco (46′, Mariano), R. Battaglia, J. Alonso; G. Scarpa (46′, E. Vargas), F. Vera (46′, Bernard), A. Franco, G. Arana; Hulk, Paulinho; and Deyverson (76′, A. Kardec). DT: G. Milito.
Botafogo :John; Vitinho, Adryelson, A. Barboza, A. Telles (58′, Marcal); M. Freitas, Grégore; Luiz Henrique (79′, M. Martins), J. Savarino (58′, D. Barbosa), T. Almada (80′, J. Santos); and Igor Jesus (90’+2′, Allan). DT: A. Jorge.
Goals : 0-1, 35′, Luiz Henrique, has the ball on the left and finishes with his left foot; 0-2, 44′, Alex Telles, penalty; 1-2, 47′, Vargas, header after Hulk’s corner; 1-3, 90+7′, Júnior Santos, after personal action.
Arbitrator : F. Tello (ARG). He warned Battaglia, Lyanco, Vera, Hulk (AM); Alex Telles, Almada, Vitinho, J. Santos (B). At 2′, Gregore (B) is sent off for a disqualifying foul.
Monumental Stadium, Buenos Aires. Around 70,000 people took part.
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.
