Ten-Man Botafogo Pull Off Historic Win in the 2024 Copa Libertadores Final
Last Saturday, Botafogo made history in winning their first Copa Libertadores title. Artur Jorge’s side beat Atlético Mineiro 3-1 at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
Flights to the Argentine capital were bought months in advance of anyone knowing the finalists. Nearly 70,000 Brazilian fans were in attendance.
Novak Djokovic was chosen to carry and place the prestigious trophy before the match.
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA – Aerial view of Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Sebastian Rodeiro/Getty Images)
Atlético Mineiro
The Roosters won their only Copa Libertadores in 2013, defeating Olimpia of Paraguay over two legs. Their key player during that era was the legendary Ronaldinho. He became part of an illustrious list of players who have won both the Champions League and the Copa Libertadores.
Gabriel Milito’s side were winless in ten games going into Saturday’s final. The result of this match ultimately led to him losing his job.
Brazilian Atletico Mineiro’s Ronaldinho (R) vies for the ball with Paraguayan Olimpia’s midfielder Eduardo Aranda during their Libertadores Cup second leg football match at the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil on July 24, 2013. AFP PHOTO / DOUGLAS MAGNO
Botafogo
The Rio de Janeiro club, who held first place in the Brazilian Serie A, were favourites for the trophy. Botafogo was the club of Brazilian legends, Garrincha and Jairzinho. Holding the record for most players called up to the Brazilian National Team, it is surprising that they had not won the Libertadores during the 20th century.
Sport, Football, August 1963, Famous Brazilian stars Pele (left) and Garrincha pictured together as friendly rivals at club level, Pele in his Santos strip and Garrincha for Botafogo (Photo by Popperfoto via Getty Images)
Match Report
Atlético Mineiro set up with a daring front three of Paulinho and Hulk on either wing with Deyverson through the middle. Luis Henrique and Thiago Almada were expected to be the attacking threats for Botafago.
After a mere two minutes play, Botafogo midfielder, Gregore, was sent off for his full-blooded high boot through the head of Fausto Vera, leaving the Mineiro player floored. Their league meeting from the previous week saw two players sent off.
The hot and fiery ambience intensified as equal feelings of justice and injustice filled the stadium.
Botafogo fans had their hands over their faces, already fearing a loss when they had been favourites 60 seconds before.
With the first attack of the game, Hulk unleashed a powerful swerving left foot shot from range which he followed with another effort from the right side of the box; he teased and intimidated defenders with his skill and power.
Botafogo stayed compact as they searched for a new game plan, but Mineiro inevitably dominated the ball.
Hulk, again, fired a swerving rocket shot that struck the head of defender Barbosa, laying him down on the grass for a few minutes. This was the type of power and swerve that Hulk was known for during his time at Porto, which devastated Europa League teams. As Tim Vickery said: “When he hits a ball, it stays hit.”
Hulk was the only daring player for his team. In the first 25 minutes, Mineiro had not shown much despite having an extra man. Their passing was slow and side to side, not producing any penetrative play. They looked scared to go on and win the final.
Botafogo sensed their lack of decisiveness. Mineiro failed to take the initiative and Botafogo grew in confidence. The numerical advantage did not seem to make a difference, and they went for it.
Botafogo’s Thiago Almada began to delicately link the play with a pass down the right and the ball was crossed to Luiz Henrique, a £13 million signing from Real Betis. After a ricochet, the ball fell back to his left foot, and he smashed a low volley into the net. The ten-man team were 1-0 up in the final.
With five minutes of regulation time remaining, Henrique chased down a ball caught between the hesitant centre back Alonso and keeper Everson, who swiped him down. After a VAR check, a penalty was finally awarded. Alex Telles, formerly of Manchester United, stepped up and drove home a low left foot shot into the bottom right corner and Botafogo were miraculously 2-0 up just before half time.
Botafogo’s Portuguese head coach Artur Jorge gestures during the Copa Libertadores (Photo by MAURO PIMENTEL / AFP) (Photo by MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP via Getty Images)
Second Half
Mineiro rolled the dice and made three substitutions. This included the magical, former Everton, midfielder Bernard Duarte and experienced Chilean Eduardo Vargas.
Within the first minute, Hulk swung in an accurate corner from the left, flying straight onto the head of Vargas who headed it into the top corner. His first touch of the ball.
Mineiro dominated possession as they finally gained a bit of confidence in themselves. Hulk continued to impose his class and authority.
Botafogo were hanging on as Mineiro overwhelmed them around the box, drawing a couple of penalty shouts.
Botafogo weathered the storm and brought on the imposing midfielder Danilo Barbosa just before the 60th minute.
Mineiro were still in the ascendancy. Hulk attempted every kind of shot with his potent left foot, but Botafogo keeper John Victor matched him with fantastic saves.
Igor Jesus became an outlet for Botafogo, holding up play and winning free kicks high up the pitch.
Botafogo were organised and compact as they tried to see out the last 15 minutes, making substitutions at the right time to slow down the game.
Junior Santos came on in the 79th minute for Almada.
Vargas, who had been brought on to save Mineiro, missed two massive chances. The second came when he was through on goal and knocked a volley over the bar.
As the game entered the dying stages, Mineiro hoped to find one last chance as seven minutes were added, but it did not come.
In the last minute of the game, the ball was punted forward and Junior Santos found himself hemmed in at the corner flag. With a piece of Brazilian genius, he dragged the ball, flicked it through a gap and glided between both players. He hit the ball low across the face of the goal. The ball fell back to him after a scramble and he slid it into an empty net, giving Botafogo the Copa Libertadores for the first time in their history.
The fans erupted, tears streaming down the faces of the young and old.
Botafogo took the script of ‘losing after being down to 10 men’, ripped it up and wrote their own masterpiece filled with resolute defending and moments of quality. Artur Jorge and his side had won the most prestigious cup in South America.
