World Soccer - UK (2022-01)

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