The palm treescurrent two-time champion Libertadores Cupthrashed this Tuesday 4-1 at Sports Tachira Venezuelan, whom he sent to the Copa Sudamericana, and closed a perfect group stage, achieving several historical records.
The team led by the Portuguese Abel Ferreira, qualified early for the round of 16 as first in Group A, had nothing at stake, but showed once again that they are determined to win their third consecutive title. He hasn’t lost in the top continental competition for more than a year and tonight he increased his unbeaten streak to 14 games.
Brazilian midfielder Gustavo Scarpa was the star of the match with three goals in the 15th, 22nd and 68th minutes, the last two from penalties. The Venezuelan central defender Jean Gutiérrez cut in the 48th minute for the team of the Spanish coach Alexandre Pallarés, in a chain error by the Verdiblanca defense, although Rony and Scarpa buried the illusion of the visitors to put the final 4-1.
The victory allows Palmeiras to overcome the record of 21 goals scored in a group stage that they shared with River Plate in 2020 and, in addition, to sign the best campaign in history in this first round of the Libertadores, better than that of Boca Juniors of 2015.
That year, the Buenos Aires team also achieved 18 points, with 19 goals for and 2 against. In this 2022, the Sao Paulo team has been more effective in attack (25), although it has conceded a bit more (3).
Deportivo Táchira, who needed the three points to be in the round of 16 without depending on other results, was outperformed at all times by a rival that today seems unbeatable.
The aurinegro team will have to settle for the South American team to finish this group stage in third position, after the humiliating 7-0 that the Ecuadorian Emelec, which will accompany Palmeiras to the round of 16, endorsed the Bolivian Oriente Petrolero.
The Ferreira campus resolved on the fast track
Tonight’s duel at the Allianz Parque served Palmeiras to show off the solidity that led them to lift the Libertadores in 2020 and 2021. Ferreira’s squad, which had Raphael Veiga’s sensitive drop due to covid-19, resolved for the Fast Track. Before the half hour of the meeting had already opened a difference of two goals.
The first was a resounding gift from goalkeeper Cristopher Varela, who lost a seemingly harmless cross from Scarpa between his hands and legs. The second came in a penalty provoked on Rafael Navarro and that Scarpa himself transformed.
Rony almost certified the win before the break. He would do it in the second half, in the 57th minute, after a pass from Dudu. Earlier, Gutiérrez scored the goal of honor for the Venezuelans from a corner.
Táchira’s death certificate was signed by Scarpa, who scored again from the penalty spot, committed this time by Edisson Restrepo on Breno Lopes. Despite the enormous advantage, Palmeiras did not stop stepping on the accelerator, they were insatiable until the last minute and they were able to fall further.
With no one to overshadow him, for the moment, he has already made sure to finish all the matches at home, after signing the best campaign of the group stage this year.
