Palmeiras win first Libertadores since 1999 after Substitute Breno Lopes scores 99th minute winner
In an all Brazilian clash in Copa Libertadores final in what a historical moment for Brazilian football, the last episode of South America’s version of the UEFA Champions League took place at the famous Estádio Maracanã and Palmeiras finally wrote their name in golden inks after leapfrogging Santos in Rio de Janeiro.
After closely contest match between the best two sides in this season’s Libertadores, one in Palmeiras have to claim the ultimate late in the game when it was 6′ minutes to full time.
Though Santos where the better side in terms of possession taking 59% against Palmeiras’ 41%, Cuca’s side went home empty handed and that will be a sad news for Neymar who eventually lifted the title for Santos in 2011 before leaving for Barcelona.
Breno Lopes scored a dramatic late winner nine minutes into stoppage time to snatch a 1-0 win over Santos and give Palmeiras their first Copa Libertadores triumph for 21 years.
A largely insipid encounter looked set for extra time with the two sides struggling to create much in the way of goalscoring opportunities with both goalkeepers bystanders for the majority of the contest.
The drama came in stoppage time, though, when Santos head coach Cuca was first sent off for his involvement in a touchline scuffle with a Palmeiras player.
This was followed by what proved to be the match winner, with Breno rising highest at the back post to get on the end of a deep delivery from Rony and provide the only real moment of quality with a header back across goal and into the far corner.
Palmeiras will now represent South America in the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup that start next week Thursday in Qatar.
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