Atlético Mineiro won the 54th edition of the Copa Bridgestone Libertadores. Mineiro won 4-3 in a dramatic penalty shootout and the cup stays in Belo Horizonte.
Atletico Mineiro of Brazil on Wednesday realized its dream by winning its first Copa Libertadores title after beating Olimpia of Paraguay 4-3 on penalties in the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte.
Jo in the 46th minute and Leonardo Silva in the 86th got the goals for Mineiro to force extra time. Olimpia had won the first-leg 2-0 in Asuncion.
Alecsandro, Guilherme, Jo and Leonardo Silva scored in the shootout for Mineiro.
Herminio Miranda (stopped), Juan Carlos Ferreyra (goal), Salustiano Candia (goal), Eduardo Aranda (goal) and Matías Giménez (missed) took the penalty shots for Olimpia.
The Brazilian goalkeeper Victor was the hero during the penalties and stopped the first shot taken by Miranda.
Victor had been decisive in the quarterfinal match against Tijuana in Mexico and in the semifinals against Newell‘s Old Boys of Argentina, those games also going to penalties.
The first title for Mineiro meant a fourth runner-up for Olimpia. The ‘Dean‘ won the Libertadores three times (1979, 1990 and 2002).
The ‘Galo‘ started the game with intense pressure on Olimpia’s side of the field and had their first goal scoring opportunity at the 2 minute mark. Diego Tardelli started up the right and crossed for Bernard and Jo, but neither could get a touch on the ball.
But although they had more ball possession the Brazilian players seemed nervous and had difficulty in penetrating the Paraguayan defense.
It was the visitors who controlled the rest of the first half.
Olimpia first threatened in the 15th minute when Fredy Bareiro broke down the left and stood face to face with Victor, who managed to hold the shot.
«I don’t think they were better than us. We missed two or three goals,» said Olimpia coach Ever Almeida to FoxSports after the game.
Dissatisfied with the team’s performance in the first half, Mineiro coach Cuca replaced Pierre with Rosinei.
The change couldn’t have been more effective as it was precisely from the feet of Rosinei that started Mineiro’s first goal.
Rosinei sent the ball into the box in the first minute of the second half where Jo appeared to put the ball into the net.
The fans in the stands erupted with joy and the Mineirao stadium shook.
Jo, who was top scorer of the tournament with seven goals, almost extended the lead in the 50th minute when he headed over the bar off a rebound from goalkeeper Martin Silva who was trying to contain a shot by Diego Tardelli.
Silva stood on his head for the team in the second half with some superb saves.
Leonardo Silva managed to head a cross from Michel at the 60 minute mark which Silva saved.
Cuca then wanted a more offensive scheme and so took out Michel and sent on the pitch striker Alexsandro.
In the 84th minute Olimpia player Julio Manzur was expelled for a second yellow after a hard tackle against Alecsandro.
Leonardo Silva then became the hero of the night in the 86th minute when he jumped above all in the box and headed home a Bernard center from the right.
In extra time Mineiro was the better team but they couldn’t get a goal and the match went to penalties where they finally won.
The title means Atletico Mineiro qualifies to the tenth edition of the Club World Cup, to be held in Morocco in December.
