Mengao and Corinthians drew (1-1) in the Maracana and the title was decided in maximum penalties by a very tight 6-5
Flamengo conquers a title that has been elusive since 2013 before playing the final of the Libertadores against Ath. Paranaense
Flamengo fulfilled the predictions and won the Copa do Brasil against Corinthians, but they did so by taking the most difficult path possible. After 0-0 in the first leg in Sao Paulo, the rubronegros only needed a simple victory, but they ended up drawing (1-1) and had to wait for an agonizing penalty shootout, in which they won 6-5 thanks to the faults of Fagner Y Mateus Vital.
Without winning any of the two games, Mengao regained a cup title that had eluded them for nine seasons. The triumph, without a doubt, that will give even more morale to the group of Dorival Junior, which on Saturday the 29th, faces the final of the Copa Libertadores against Ath. Paranaense.
AN EARLY GOAL
All the previous strategies were disrupted, when, already in the 6th minute, Mengao made it 1-0 in a great triangulation between three of his stars Arrascaeta, Everton Ribeiro and Pedro, which completely dismantled Timao’s defensive system, to the despair of his coach, the Portuguese Vítor Pereira.
From then on, Corinthians had to row against the currentexposing one of its great limitations: the articulation of the collective game.
And, although the paulistas managed to equalize possession of the ball (which is noteworthy considering that they had the most technical team on the continent in front of them) they were ineffective in attack, without creating any danger against the goalkeeper Saints.
Pulling from experience, Flamengo knew how to time the match well, crouched behind and tried to get out in numerical superiority in the cons. However, Timao’s very experienced center back duo, Balbuena and, mainly, Gil, were very good on the cut.
THE CORINTHIANS REACHED THE COMEBACK
More ambitious, Corinthians advanced lines in the second half playing with a conviction not seen until then. And, finally, the visitors’ opportunities arrived, the clearest one being Roger Guedes’ incomprehensible missed goal.
Willing to live on a minimum income and wait for time to pass, Flamengo made the mistake of closing behind. Corinthians, very serious, became the lord and master of the game, they gained in confidence and Giuliano tied 1-1 (min. 82) culminating a good combination. It was the prize, the good game displayed in the second half.
The definition of the champion would be in the penalty shootout. The keeper of Timao, Cassiusa true specialist, stopped the former mattress player’s first pitch Philip Louis. Corinthians was ahead until Fagner he stamped his chupinazo on the crossbar. And, everything was decided in the seventh round, with Mateus Vital sending the ball into the clouds and the lateral Rodini he converted his to the delirium of the ‘torcida’ rubronegra that filled Maracana. Santos didn’t even need to stop a single shot for his team to be champion.