WORLDSERVICE
andanevenbetter oneforNikao,
a clubstalwart.
A goalahead– andanoutstanding
one– Athleticoknewtherestofthe
scriptbyheart.Inthe domesticcup
theyhadrecentlyeliminatedtheall-
powerfulFlamengowithacounter-
attackingmasterclassanda 3-0win
inRio’sMaracanastadium.They
wereconfidentof beingabletohold
whateverBragantinocouldthrow at
them.Athleticocouldnow be even
happiertodefenddeep,allowing
captainThiagoHeleno,inthemiddle
ofthe back
three,tooperate
inreducedspace,
headingand
kickingthe
ballaway.
Barbieri
abandonedhis
4-4-2at half-timeinfavourofthe
morecustomary 4 -3- 3 , butstill the
teamcould notfinditsrhythm on
thebigoccasion.The more Bragantino
strainedtogetbackintothegame,
themoreAthleticointerruptedthe
flowofa stop-startsecondhalf. Artur,
Bragantino’s mostpotentattacking
weapon,wasneverableto getinto
theaction.There were a coupleof
minoralarmsfromcorners, but
AthleticokeeperSantoshada
comfortableafternoon,withnot
a serioussavetomake before
thecelebrationscouldbegin.
Theproblemwas thatthere were
sofew fansinthe Centenariostadium
todothecelebrating.Thegrandold
bowlwasnotevenclosetobeinga third
full.Athleticohadmore supporters
presentthanBragantino,butneither
oftheseclubshavegiantfollowings.
Thebigquestionherewas thevalidity
ofstaginga one-off finalina neutral
venue,happeningfor thethird year.
This 2021 version broughtspecial
complications.South America’sair
connectionsare inadequate andover-
pricedduringnormaltimes,andthe
pandemichasmadethisevenworse.
Withbordersonlyjust re-opening,
travelisespeciallyprecarious.And
veryunwisely, CONMEBOLonly
addedtotheproblemwithabsurd
ticketprices.The cheapest seatinthe
housewas $ 10 0 – a fortune by South
Americanstandards,andwellbeyond
themeansof theaveragefan.
Theideaofthe finalina neutral
venue hasprosandcons.Thereare
- or shouldbe– clearmarketing
advantagesfromstaginga one-off
game.Butanysenseofoccasionis
fatallyundercutbytheexistenceof
somanyemptyspacesinthe stands.
Somekindofrethinkshouldsurely
takeplace beforethefinalofthe
2022 CopaSudamericana.
Frustrated...
Bragantino
forwardArtur
Champions...
captainThiago
Helenoraises
thetrophy
wouldopenupfor thewingers,
NikaoandDavidTerans.Justbefore
thehalf-hour, bothcombinedfor
thekeymomentofthe match.
Fromdeepontheright,centre-back
Pedro Henriquehita longdiagonal
ballthatthe Bragantinodefencefailed
tocut out.Teransseizedthe chance,
latchingontotheballandblastinga
cross-shotthatwaspushedoutby
Cleitoninthe Bragantinogoal.Nikao
reactedquickest,gettinginfrontof
thedefendertolaunchanacrobatic
scissor-kickvolleyoff hisstrongerleft
footwhich wentbackacrossandinside
thepost.Itwas a greatmomentfor
Terans,a Uruguayanplayingonthe
pitchwherehe madehisname,
Leader...Athletico’s
veterancentre-back
Thiago Heleno
Match winner...Nikaocelebrateshisgoal
Nikaoreactedquickest,gettinginfrontofthe
defendertolaunchanacrobaticscissor-kick
volleyoffhisstrongerleftfootwhichwent
backacrossandinsidethepost