Leonel Álvarez's team matched the series with a goal from Jefferson Mena and took penalties to the Brazilian team at home. But in the batch, the errors weighed and the place advanced to eighths.
Photo: EFE – JOAO GUILHERME
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Atlético Bucaramanga was close to writing one of the greatest pages in its international history. With an agonized header from Jefferson Mena at the edge of the first half, he matched the series against Atlético Mineiro in the Belo Horizonte MRV sand. It was 1-0 in the 90 minutes, enough to force the definition by penalties. But there, the hierarchy of the Brazilian team and the mistakes of the 'leopard' weighed more. The Gallic team won 3-1 from twelve steps and sealed its classification to the round of 16 of the South American Cup.
Leonel Álvarez's approach was brave from the beginning. His team, with order and personality, resisted Mineiro's initial attacks, which turned to Hulk, Scarpa and Dudu attack seeking to break the defensive block. But the wall was Aldair Quintana, an indisputable figure in the first half with at least three key shortcuts that kept the Colombian team alive.
Waiting for the rival error, Bucaramanga opted for the still ball and it was right where he found the prize: Sambueza accurately charged a free kick and Mena rose to put the frentazo that tied the series (1-1 in the global).
The second half was a resistance story. Bucaramanga endured with order, suffered on several occasions – including two shots in the stick by Dudu and Alonso – and responded with defensive changes to protect the advantage. Meanwhile, Mineiro was filled with anxiety. Despite the pressure of his fans and territorial dominance, he never managed to violate the last line or break the strength of Mena and company. Over time, the series was defined from the penalty point.
That was where the illusion broke. While Hulk, Menino and Everson scored for the Gaul, Bucaramanga blurred from the eleven steps. Mena, hero in the 90s, sent his shot above. Henao and Zárate could not with Everson either, while Chavez was the only Colombian who converted. Quintana stopped a penalty, but it wasn't enough. The final result: 3-1 in the batch and classification for Brazilians.
Despite the elimination, Bucaramanga's performance was more than worthy. He knew how to compete in a hostile scenario, before a rival of greater weight and with a much more expensive template. The delivery, the tactical order and the courage of the Santandereano team are worthy of recognition. The team left a pleasant image in its first participation in an international decisive phase and showed that, with work, it can live up to the greats.
Atlético Mineiro, meanwhile, passed with suffering, and with more nerves than football. The Cuca team showed worrying cracks and must improve if you want to advance in the coming phases. For Bucaramanga, there is the comfort of having left everything on the court and the learning that leaves a cup night where there is little history.
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