Incredible atmosphere at the Monumental creating a "caldeirão" that would make the knees of any opposing team shake. Final result ... River eliminated with zero goals in 180 mins.
I couldn't care less who paid for all those fireworks, but it was sure a waste of money. Had River gone through, those fogos would have at least been part of an epic comeback. It was just the smoke in a night of smoke and mirrors for the home team.
No one wrote anything about Botafogo's title win? I only learned this weekend that in Brazil, it has often been said "tem coisas que só acontecem com o Botafogo." This match vs. Atlético Mineiro will go down in history - no one could have imagined this script. When Gregore got red-carded, I thought it was over. I had hoped Botafogo would have won, and not because of any animus vs. Galo, but because Botafogo had had an amazing campaign and deserved it given the futebol it had displayed. Much to my surprise, Botafogo went up 2-0 with 10 men in the first half. Vargas made it exciting right as the second half started, but Botafogo held on - and won 3-1. Gregore is one hell of a lucky guy, because if Botafogo had lost, he would have been scapegoated for the rest of his life, not just his career. Recently, Botafogo full-back Barboza gave an interview and was asked why Botafogo deserved to win this Libertadores. He said that Botafogo had started from the pré-Libertadores stage and then proceeded to oust three former champions in the knockout stages: Palmeiras, São Paulo, and Peñarol. The same applied to Atlético Mineiro, with its eliminations of San Lorenzo, Fluminense (the defending champions), and River Plate. This only engrandece Botafogo's Libertadores triumph, as it defeated an opponent which itself got past titlists of the past in its own route towards the final. I wonder if Dorival is paying attention - who from Botafogo will become regulars, even if as bench players at first, for Brazil in 2025? Of note was this match being the fourth time an Argentine manager coaching a Brazilian team in a Libertadores final - and the fourth defeat. Before Gabriel Mlito yesterday, José Poy with SPFC in 1974, Alfredo González with Palmeiras in 1968, and Armando Renganeschi with Palmeiras in 1961 reached the final but took silver home. Six straight Libertadores titles for Brazil!... and the three last ones by RJ teams: Flamengo, Fluminense, and Botafogo. I reckon Vasco won't be winning it in 2025, but I'm all for a continuation of Brazilian supremacy in the Libertadores.
I thought that at 2 x 1, Botafogo kicked Deyverson's ankle / heel in the box. Surprised VAR didn't intervene. Regardless, impressive win for Botafogo being a man down for 90 mins. I wouldn't have given them a red card on that play. Atletico player lowered his head quite a bit. I never thought Atletico had a chance with even numbers otherwise ... but proved they couldn't even beat a man down Botafogo. Atletico really played just a hand full of good games at most and go to the finals of Liberta and CdB. Easy path to the finals benefitted them. Really unimpressive team given the roster.