After the tough 3-0 defeat in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores semi-finals, in Ecuador, Abel Ferreira warned that 90 minutes at the Palmeiras stadium was “too long”. The coach bet that his team would turn the overall score around in the clash with LDU, which happened on Thursday night (30), with a 4-0 victory.
It wasn’t the Portuguese’s only bet that paid off. The selection of striker Allan and the addition of midfielder Raphael Veiga were decisive in building the elastic triumph, necessary after the blow taken in the 2,850 m in Quito. Allan participated in three goals, Veiga scored two, and the Alviverde fans celebrated at Allianz Parque, in São Paulo.
Palmeiras, therefore, is in the decision of the main South American championship for the third time since 2020. Again, as in the 2021 title, the decision will be against Flamengo. The final clash, in a single game, is scheduled for November 29th, at the Monumental stadium in Lima, where the two Brazilian teams will fight for the four-peat.
This Thursday, given the size of the task on the night, Abel adopted an offensive formation. With three defenders as the only effective marking players, the coach placed a winger on the right wing, the skillful left-footed Allan. Este, Maurício, Andreas Pereira, Piquerez, Flaco López, Vitor Roque and Sosa tried to suffocate the opponent.
There were options inside – left winger Piquerez also frequented the central area – and threats on both sides, with Allan and Sosa. And it was precisely in a cross from right to left that Allan found Sosa for the goal that fueled the green’s hope, with a header executed in the 20th minute.
At this point, the superiority of the home team was already very evident, as they would end the first half with 69% possession of the ball, according to official statistics from Conmebol (South American Football Confederation). LDU only rarely managed to leave the defense field and saw their rival frequent their area.
The score was only not increased in the sequence because Vitor Roque abused his individuality and had a shot blocked – Allan, who had built the entire play, at speed, was free, in front of the goalkeeper. But, in their 19th shot of the initial stage, Palmeiras achieved the second goal, even before the break.
Although referee Wilmar Roldan had signaled three minutes of added time, the match was already in its 50th minute when the ball was raised into the area following a free kick. Roque deflected it towards the penalty spot, and, after a partial cut, it was offered to Fuchs, who hit it well with his right foot.
Tiago Nunes tried to change the stunned LDU, swapping the slow Alzugaray for the much faster Pastrán, to at least threaten a little more on counterattacks. The Ecuadorian team even improved, but just four minutes into the final stage they had to rely on a good save from Domínguez on a header from Flaco López to stay ahead in the overall score of the match.
At 19, when the Palmeiras athletes were already showing anxiety and making mistakes in the construction, Abel contacted Raphael Veiga in an attempt to stabilize the situation. It worked quickly. At 23, in another move with good participation from Allan, Veiga launched Roque and appeared in the area to receive it back and score.
Everything was the same in the sum of the two games, but it was clear that the moment was alviverde. Then the move occurred that delivered the final prize to Abel’s bets. Allan built an excellent individual play on the right wing and suffered a clear penalty from Gruezo. Raphael Veiga hit the middle, at 37, and put his club in the Libertadores decision.
