Copa Libertadores: Fluminense win trophy for first time with extra time victory over Boca Juniors
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ByOli Gent
Updated 04/11/2023 at 23:53 GMT
Fluminense, the Brazilian side, have won the Copa Libertadores for the first time in their history with a 2-1 win over Boca Juniors at the Maracana. In a tight affair that went to extra time, it was German Cano, so often Flu's go-to man in this competition, who opened the scoring, before Luis Advincula levelled with a curler 18 minutes from time. John Kennedy's thunderbolt won it for the Tricolor.
Romero the hero as Boca Juniors beat Racing on penalties to reach Copa Libertadores semis
Brazilian side Fluminense have won the Copa Libertadores after a 2-1 win in extra time over Argentinian giants Boca Juniors.
In a mad affair, Fluminense, who had former Real Madrid man Marcelo at left-back, became the fifth consecutive Brazilian winners of the competition, following the feats of Flamengo and Palmeiras.
German Cano opened the scoring on 36 minutes at the Maracana, as he swept home into the bottom left corner, with his strike sending the Tricolor in a goal to the good at the break.
It took until the 72nd minute for Boca to find a reply, but it was worth the wait, as Luis Advincula, the right-back, showed great composure to work himself some space, cutting infield onto his left foot, before curling an effort into the far corner beyond the reach of Fabio in the Fluminense goal.
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RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - NOVEMBER 04: Marcelo (R) of Fluminense celebrates with teammate after winning the final match of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2023 between Fluminense and Boca Juniors at Maracana Stadium on November 04, 2023 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazi
Image credit: Getty Images
At 1-1 and with the game finely poised, both sides entered extra time, seeking that elusive winner in a game that was teetering on a knife's edge.
That came from the boot of John Kennedy, the Flu substitute, whose thunderous strike was met by a deafening roar from the Maracana faithful. Receiving the nodded knock-down from Keno, on the edge of the box, there was only one thought in the striker's mind, as he took it first time, on the half-volley, slicing across it, with the ball piercing the side netting of Sergio Romero's goal.
Cue manic celebration from the goalscorer and fans alike, but Kennedy's over-celebrating was to be his downfall, as the match winner earned a second yellow card for the offence, leaving Flu to try and hold on with ten men.
Boca left-back Frank Fabra swiftly joined Kennedy in the dressing rooms, as the Colombian slapped Nino, the Fluminense captain, to earn himself an early bath and practically kill any lingering hope that the Argentines had of getting themselves back into the contest.
Fluminense, whose side also included a 40-year-old Felipe Melo, formerly of Juventus and Inter Milan, held on for their first Copa Libertadores crown, and the full-time whistle was met with sheer emotion, particularly Marcelo, who returned to his boyhood club club 16 years after he left them for Madrid.
Having been a European champion five times with Real, Marcelo has now won the South American equivalent, and it was evident how much it meant to the full-back as he sobbed on the bench after Kennedy's goal, and as the full-time whistle blew, he ran to embrace 43-year-old goalkeeper Fabio as he let all his emotion pour out.
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