A ball at Liniers. For the semi-final first leg of the tournament, Mengao crushed Vélez Sarsfield 4-0, with an exceptional performance from Pedro, author of a hat-trick. The two Chileans from Fla enter the second half. The Brazilians strongly reaffirm their candidacy for the continental title.
The flamingo iron candidate for the scepter of the Copa Libertadores de América 2022, has taken a giant step to settle in the definition of the highest club tournament this side of the world. In Buenos Aires, he showed all his qualities to win with extreme ease against Vélez Sarsfield (4-0) and stay with the ticket for the final, which will be in Guayaquil, at your fingertips. Arturo Vidal and Erick Pulgar started on the bench and came on in the second half. They were eyewitnesses to a carousel.
Mengao has reached the semi-finals in three of the last four editions of the Cup: 2019, 2021 and 2022. In other words, its pre-eminence at the South American level is not accidental. In the front row was Fortín, whose merit is to be the only non-Brazilian in the round of the first four of the competition, having dismissed River Plate and Talleres de Córdoba respectively. On the bad terrain of Liniers, the difference between one casting and the other was notorious. The good touch of Fla’s players allowed him to take advantage of the spaces and take an almost insurmountable advantage for the return match.
Vélez, who did not have his coach on the bench due to suspension, the Uruguayan Alexander Medina (former Unión Española striker), immediately gave up the initiative. Flamengo was in control, ball on the ground, displaying his lyricism. In the long run, they recorded 64% possession in the first half. But it was not a bland mandate. They did damage.
The Cariocas have a remarkable pair of forwards. The one who shone was the lanky Pedro (complement with Gabriel Barbosa), who entered with a triplet. At 32 minutes, the striker of the evening opened the account, chaining a cross from Léo Pereira. Each visit attack was like a dagger. At the end of the first period, Éverton Ribeiro brought the score to 2-0, after a fine decisive pass (first class) from Gabigol.
The distance increased in the second half. Fla’s display turned into a dance. Pedro was in for an unforgettable night. At minute 61, he scored the third goal, netting the ball against goalkeeper Hoyos. If it hadn’t been for the trans-Andean goal, the score was even more expressive. The 21 of the Rubro-Black sealed its hat trick seven minutes from the end, after an intervention by Arturo Vidal.
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The king was already at court. He entered at 71′. Then, at minute 79, Erick Pulgar did. The Chileans have positioned themselves as central midfielders, to breathe new life into the fight. The Antofagasta player, in his second game with the Brazilians, was cautioned. Both are gaining in activity with the Fla, which plays three competitions in parallel (the Brasileirao and the Brazilian Cup are added to it).
The rematch will be played next Wednesday, September 7, at the Maracana, which has become a daunting task for Vélez. Without being overconfident, Brazil’s most popular cast are in a different status, bringing their countless credentials to be the champion of the Americas to the table. For the other semi-final, Athletico Paranaense took a slight advantage over Palmeiras, the defending champion, on Tuesday night (1-0).
score sheet
Velez 0 : L. Holes; L. Jara, M. De los Santos, V. Gómez, F. Ortega; N. Garayalde, S. Cáseres (65′, M. Seoane); L. Orellano (75′, J. Fernández), W. Bou (65′, A. Osorio), L. Janson; and L. Pratto. DT: A. Medina.
flamingo 4 : Saints; Rodinei, David Luiz, L. Pereira, Filipe Luis; Joao Gomes (85′, Victor Hugo), T. Maia (71′, A. Vidal), E. Ribeiro (85′, Diego); G. De Arrascaeta (79′, E. Thumb); Gabriel Barbosa (85′, Everton) and Pedro. DT: D.Junior.
Goals : 0-1, 32 ‘, Pedro, connects the center of Léo Pereira; 0-2, 45′+1′, Everton Ribeiro, touches inside the box after Gabi’s pass; 0-3, 61′, Pedro, goalkeeper Hoyos itches; 0-4, 83’, Pedro, low shot.
Arbitrator : W. Roldan (COL). He reprimanded Gómez, De los Santos, Seoane (F); Gabriel Barbosa, T. Maia, David Luiz, Leo Pereira, Pulgar (F).
Jose Amalfitani Stadium, Buenos Aires.
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Source: Latercera
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
