Deyversonan old acquaintance of Spanish football, sent home Fluminensechampion of the Libertadores Cup 2023, and, with two decisive goals in the second half, put the Atletico Mineiro in the semi-finals, where he will face River PlateThe former Deportivo Alavés, Levante and Getafe player came off the bench just before half-time and scored twice to turn around the narrow defeat suffered by the Belo Horizonte side at the Maracaná last week (1-0).
They had to suffer for the 2-0 and complete the comeback, which only came in the 89th minute, with a cross from Hulk that Deyverson pushed into the net at the MRV Arena. A bad game for the champions, who will now have to focus on not being relegated to the second division of the Brazilian Championship.
Atlético Mineiro’s spell began in the first minute. The team led by Argentine Gabriel Milito deserved to go into the break with something more than a 0-0 because they did everything to win. In the 7th minute, Hulk missed a penalty for a handball by Colombian Jhon Arias. Fábio, with more than 100 Libertadores matches under his belt, guessed the side and stopped the shot.
But the pressure didn’t end there. Fluminense were unable to hold on to the ball for more than five seconds. Gustavo Scarpa, an improvised right winger, was busy running, putting in crosses and bombarding Fábio’s goal. Guilherme Arana also advanced on the left and Battaglia hit the post with a shot from outside the area.
Bernard (Mineiro) fights for the ball with Kevin Serna, from Fluminense
The Brazilians, outnumbered at all times, only created a few dangers with a header from Thiago Silva and a finish from Kauã Elias. Too little for a team that bases its game on possession. Milito was irritated by the lack of accuracy and took advantage of Bernard’s injury just before the break to bring on another centre forward, Deyverson, a true survivor in the area.
He had little to do to make his mark on the match. Scarpa’s umpteenth cross and the 33-year-old striker, an expert in big games, beat Thiago Silva and headed into the back of the net.
The former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain player made a mistake, and Deyverson’s header also bounced off his back. The tie was tied with almost the entire second half still to go. Fábio appeared again to avoid the inevitable by deflecting a Scarpa shot that was heading straight into the top corner. The 43-year-old goalkeeper was also well positioned in two Paulinho passes that smelled of goal.
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Mineiro showed their effort and slowed down in the final minutes of the second half. Penalties seemed inevitable, but they kept pushing and found their reward. Because Hulk invented a cross to the far post and there he was, Deyverson, to stretch out and turn the tie around. The Brazilian striker was the undisputed hero and even got emotional on the pitch.
TECHNICAL SHEET
2 – Atletico Mineiro: Everson; Guilherme Arana, Lyanco, Battaglia, Junior Alonso, Gustavo Scarpa (m.97, Igor Rabello); Fausto Vera, Alan Franco, Bernard (d.45, Deyverson); Paulinho (m.92, Rubens) and Hulk
Coach: Gabriel Milito
0 – Fluminense: Fábio; Samuel Xavier (m.75, Guga), Thiago Silva, Thiago Santos, Diogo Barbosa (m.57, Marcelo); Facundo Bernal, Martinelli, Ganso (m.75, Lima), Jhon Arias; Kevin Serna (m.57, Antônio Carlo) and Kauã Elias (m.65, Germán Cano)
Coach: Mano Menezes
Goals: 1-0, Deyverson (m. 50); 2-0, Deyverson (m. 89)
Referee: Colombian Wilmar Roldán cautioned Hulk, Bernard, Deyverson, Bernal, Fábio and Martinelli.
Incidents: second leg of the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals, played at the Arena MRV stadium in Belo Horizonte, in front of 43,659 spectators.
