eyewitness
which kicks off the era of neutral venue
Finals on November 9 with Argentina’s
Colon against Independiente del Valle
of Ecuador in the Copa Sudamericana.
While the Sudamericana Final is a
curious battle of unfashionable sides,
the Libertadores is a different case
entirely. Last year’s winners and four-
times champions River Plate are clearly
a famous name celebrated all over the
world. Outside Brazil, though, the full
dimension of Flamengo may not be fully
appreciated. A giant club in a giant land,
with a truly nationwide support base,
the Rio de Janeiro club have been huge
underachievers. It is extraordinary that
this is only their second Libertadores
Final – 38 years after their 1981 triumph.
For decades the club have limped
through financial crises, so the first step
in their recent rise was to balance the
books. Then they went shopping and
started to assemble a squad of
formidable depth. Finally, in the middle
of this year, came the vital part of the
jigsaw. With the hiring of Portuguese
coach Jorge Jesus, Flamengo had a
new, bold idea of play.
The fact that in the previous five years
Brazil could only manage one Libertadores
Final is a scandal, a declaration of
collective incompetence. The country’s
big clubs have a significant financial
advantage over their continental rivals,
but it was hard to see it on the pitch.
In 2018 Brazilian club after Brazilian
club crashed out of the competition as
a consequence of an excess of caution,
with defensive lines so deep they werepractically on top of the keeper. But
Jorge Jesus has put a stop to all that at
Flamengo in an exhilarating few months,
with the 6-1 aggregate semi-final
hammering of compatriots Gremio
standing as a high point.
Champions in 2017 and appearing in
their third consecutive semi-final, Renato
Portaluppi’s Gremio have had a fine
run. Operating on a budget far more
restricted than that of Flamengo or
Palmeiras, they have forged an attractive
identity as a possession-based side. But
they were blown apart in the semi-final- perhaps even more so in the 1-1 draw
at home than the 5-0 capitulation away.
Flamengo’s performance in the first
half in Porto Alegre was one of the finest
by a South American club side for many
years. Gremio, who love to have the
ball, were hounded and starved of
possession. Flamengo, with Spanish
centre-back Pablo Mari organising their
high defensive line,
camped in the opposing
half, and with proximity
between the sectors of
the team, made the ball
fizz in a series of rapid
and incisive passing
movements. They had
three goals ruled out.
And when Gremio
thought they might
have weathered the
storm, Flamengo took the
lead in typical style, driving forward in
numbers, Gerson feeding playmaker
Giorgian De Arrascaeta, whose cross
to the far post was headed home by
Bruno Henrique.
But as the game wore on Flamengo’s
press lost some of its intensity, and
Gremio started to find space. They
crafted a late equaliser when Maicon
played a neat pass to winger Everton,
and his whipped ball across the face was
turned in from close range by sub Pepe.
Gremio breathed a sigh of relief,
hoping that Flamengo had missed
their big chance. Twice earlier in thecompetition, after a
disastrous start in the
group phase and then
in the previous round
when they needed
two goals away to
Palmeiras, Gremio
had dug themselves
out of a hole.
For the return match
a packed Maracana was
expectant but nervous;
signed up for the journey
but unsure of where it might lead.
For a while the nerves seemed
justified. Flamengo had most of the ball
but Gremio had the clearest chance,
Everton getting behind their defence and
setting up a chance for Maicon, who was
just foiled by fine covering from left-back
Filipe Luis. And then, between the 43rd
and 72nd minutes, Flamengo scored five
times to set off the party.
Bruno Henrique began the rout shortly
before half-time, setting up Gabriel and
following up to tap in a blocked shot.
Soon after the interval Gabriel effectively
decided matters with a superb left-footedBold...Flamengo
coach Jorge JesusFlamengo are the most refreshing
club to hit South American
domestic football for years