Fluminense's earns first-ever Libertadores Cup win after defeating Boca Juniors in aggregate
Fluminense, led by ex-Madrid player Marcelo, won their first Copa Libertadores in extra time in an ugly and poorly played final against Boca Juniors, who will keep the dream of La Séptima, leaving Independiente as the most winning team (seven) in South America. The final was decided in the 98th minute with a goal by Kennedy.
Fluminense wanted to play from the beginning. Boca on the other hand, wanted to watch the minutes go by.
Boca let the minutes of the first half go by and saw that their goal. They made a couple of interesting advances, but their game plan was cut short in the 36th minute with the 13th goal of veteran Argentine striker Germán Cano, an almost anonymous player in Argentina, who leaves as the top scorer of the Cup (13 goals), something that no one had achieved in the Libertadores in this century.
Kennedy scored a phenomenal header
At 0-1, the game was hardly played until halftime. Flu's veterans were on the floor more than playing, meanwhile, veteran Felipe Melo led the way until he was substituted in the 51st minute.
The second half was something else in attitude, but Boca could not play. Because they didn't even have the ball, when the ball was in play Flu dominated both defensively and offensively. Boca was The dream of the seventh Libertadores trophy was going down the sewers of Maracaná stadium.
The match went to extra time (Marcelo had already been substituted earlier), although Diogo Barbosa had a chance for Flu in the last second of stoppage time. And in extra time, Boca, who had forged their Cup success on penalties, seemed to have a clear plan.
Once again, Flu took the initiative. And then came John Kennedy's goal in the 98th minute. And that was the end of the game, although there were still 20 minutes left... and Kennedy himself was sent off for an absurd, but fair, double yellow card after celebrating with the crowd.
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