Reaction to the CONMEBOL Libertadores Final

Atletico Mineiro 1-3 Botafogo

Author -  Liam Chadwick

Let's explore the biggest football report of the last few days that you might not have been paying attention to. 

Match report

Botafogo secured a first Copa Libertadores title in their 123-year history with an unforgettable victory over Brazilian rivals Atlético Mineiro.

The match at the River Plate Stadium in Argentina got off to a dramatic start, with Botafogo midfielder Gregore being sent off just 30 seconds in for a high kick to the head of Fausto Vera.

Despite being a man down, Botafogo fans were sent into raptures 34 minutes later when Luiz Henrique fired home a left-footed strike inside the box after a rare attacking move.

Buoyed by the goal, Botafogo pressed forward again. Henrique was brought down in the box by Atlético goalkeeper Everson in a rash challenge, and former Manchester United left-back Alex Telles coolly converted the penalty just before half-time to double their lead.

The victory was sealed in the dying moments, as substitute Junior Santos pounced on a defensive error to score from close range in the seventh minute of added time.

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Despite enjoying a numerical advantage for nearly the entire match, Atlético Mineiro struggled to make it count. They did pull one back just two minutes into the second half when Eduardo Vargas headed home a corner from Hulk with his first touch after coming off the bench.

Atlético pushed hard for an equaliser against a tiring Botafogo side, with 38-year-old Hulk testing goalkeeper Victor with a trademark left-footed drive. However, as the pressure mounted, Botafogo’s defence dug in, dropping deeper to fend off relentless attacks.

A golden chance for Atlético came late in the game, but Vargas could only fire over the bar from five yards out, leaving his side to rue missed opportunities.

In the final moments, Santos capitalised on a defensive mishap to smash in Botafogo’s third, ensuring an iconic victory.

You can watch the highlights of the match in the video below. The footage is from the CONMEBOL Libertadores YouTube account. 

As the final whistle blew, the Botafogo players collapsed to the turf, celebrating a historic achievement and etching their names into the club’s legacy.