The dream of the Argentines collapsed in 24 hours: first River Plate said goodbye to the Copa Libertadores, although with height against Palmeiras, and the next day Boca Juniors did, after falling thrashed against Santos in the second leg of the semifinal. The dream of another classic in the final just vanished.
The turn was for Boca, who gave a very poor image, especially in the second half, and showed all his fissures against a lethal Santos, one hundred percent efficient, talented at the start and very disciplined in the retreat, a team that deserved to be start to finish the 3-0 victory and the qualification for the Cup final, which will be played against Palmeiras.
The Colombians Fabra, Campuzano and Villa were the starters, all in the red at the end, especially the side, who was sent off.
Boca started with a slap, not because of the intense rain but because of a ball that Soteldo put in, it bounced off his teammate Pituca, they asked for a hand and, as no one reacted in the area, because he himself turned and put the ball almost accidentally, without fault, for 1-0 just at 16 minutes.
Until the 31, Boca was encouraged with Villa, who hit a frontal shot first, after a foul on Tevez.
A strong crash left Verissimo battered, who came out bleeding profusely, came back with a hat on his head and still leaking blood … the last thing he wanted was to miss a minute.
And he did it well because Boca tried to react and it seemed that everything was happening through Villa while Santos did much more damage, especially in Marinho’s free kick that Andrada saved out of sheer bravery, holding the violent shot with his palms, which was not going to be the only one because he also tried Kai Jorge at 44, although a little deviant.
To leave the tunnel with the right foot after the break, a jewel of Soteldo: the Venezuelan scored a real goal, a shot at the near post and punishment for the passivity of the Argentines at 48 minutes in the 2-0.
And it got worse because just two minutes later came a bath of talent and mischief in Brazil: Marinho’s wall, bicycle in the area, center to Braga and goal. After suffering the stinginess of Palmeiras, a comforting record of the Brazilian soccer label.
Boca tried to lift his head with a dangerous shot from Tevez that went very high but then Fabra made the whole situation worse: he committed a shameful foul on Marinho, he stepped on him when he was helpless on the floor and saw the right red at 56. What a shame , really.
Triple rebound in the Santos area with Salvio, Abila, Tevez: they all missed in front of the goal. And then Capaldo and Izquierdoz failed. That was very difficult. Marinho, on the other hand, suffered less and played more and at 68 he forgave the fourth in a shot close to the post.
Villa woke up with two attempts, the last one in a very clear free kick, but the goalkeeper saved it. And he had to do it again around 84, in another charge from Marinho, who made the party, which is a beast worth seeing in a Copa Libertadores final.
There was no longer rain in Santos, a shame because it would have served as an excuse for this gray Boca party in the second half, erratic and clearly inferior, especially since they were left with ten. Not a single idea fell on the court, while Edwin Cardona waited on the bench for an opportunity that never came. The story of his life … Russo will have to be asked why not, why him, why refuse talent when in the end there was nothing more to lose … Boca was left out, deservedly. And another final against River, to Argentina’s sadness, it could not be because of the archrival of always … it was another victory for Brazil.
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