Estudiantes coach Alexander Cacique Medina has described his side’s penalty shootout victory over Flamengo in the Copa Libertadores semi-final as a “new Maracanazo”, invoking the name of Uruguay’s famous 1950 World Cup triumph over Brazil at the same Rio de Janeiro stadium. The Argentine club are now in the final, where they will face Palmeiras in Montevideo.
A stadium steeped in history
The 48-year-old Uruguayan linked the two Maracanã and Estadio Centenario, both of which he sees as temples of his country’s football. Having beaten a Brazilian side in Rio, Cacique Medina said it was a striking feeling to now face another Brazilian club in the Centenario. “It’s a fabulous experience we’re living,” he said. “It looks like a film, but the final chapter is still missing.”
The final is scheduled for 28 November. Estudiantes have a good memory of the Centenario: it was there, against the same Palmeiras side, that they won the first of their four Libertadores titles in 1968.
Defensive resilience in Rio
The semi-final ended goalless after 90 minutes. Estudiantes had to overcome an injury to midfielder Correa in the first half, and then the dismissal of Baltasar Rodríguez early in the second half. Despite being a man down, they held firm and took the tie to penalties, where they prevailed.
Cacique Medina praised his players’ courage and organisation. Flamengo, he noted, did not create many clear chances, with their main opportunities coming in the second half. “The setbacks marked the game negatively, but the team endured with soul, courage and bravery,” he said. “My players are having a magnificent Libertadores. I’m very happy.”
A path through Brazil
Palmeiras will be the third Brazilian club Estudiantes have faced on their route to the final. They had already knocked out Corinthians in the quarter-finals before beating Flamengo in the last four. The coach insisted his side’s progress was no accident, arguing that the team had grown with every round and had deserved to reach the final.
Source: ge.globo.com
