Hulk and Paulinho, the lethal offensive duo of Atlético Mineiro, they allied to qualify the ‘Galo’ to the group stage of the Copa Libertadores 2023 by scoring the three goals of the victory against Millionaires of Colombia (3-1) this Wednesday in Belo Horizonte.
The former Bayer Leverkusen attacker (49, 81) opened the account with two header scores, the first of them assisted by the 36-year-old captain.
Hulk expanded his record as a historical artilleryman for the albinegros in the competition (14 goals) by sealing the victory with a Chilean (88) at the ‘Mineirão’ World Cup stadium.
Forward Fernando Uribe discounted in added time (90+3) for Millonarios, that last week in the first leg, in Bogotá, they left a 1-1 draw and now they will play the groups of the Copa Sudamericana.
The draw for both tournaments will take place on March 27.
– Lack of creativity –
Favorite by the weight of his payroll, the ‘Galo’ of the Argentine Eduardo Coudet set out to control the game from the beginning against a rival who in Bogotá looked him in the eye.
But the ambassadors, one of the most successful teams in Colombia, they changed the script: from the high pressure shown in the first leg, they began to cede the initiative and protect themselves with a 4-5-1.
Despite betting on keeping at a distance Hulk and Paulinho, they had the option clearer than the first half.
Uruguayan defender Mauricio Lemos (5) lost a ball at the start, leaving striker Leonardo Castro and midfielder David Silva with a free hand against Everson.
Castro entered the area and before falling he released the ball, that the blue captain lifted over the goalkeeper, although the ball went slightly wide.
Although he had 72% of the possession, Mineiro, who did not suffer again Back, he had problems generating danger in Álvaro Montero’s territory: he consoled himself with exploiting the weak mark of full-back Elvis Perlaza on the right, from where he disturbed with crosses, one of them risky that Hulk (14) spoiled with his head.
Lemos had the clearest (45) of the premises with a right hand from outside the area that passed near Montero’s right post.
– The duo awakens –
The shot showed the inability of the Brazilians – who lost Allan (13), the center of the middle, early due to injury – to team up to break a hitherto iron defense.
Returning from the dressing rooms, Coudet and Alberto Gamero gave a sample of intentions: the first, by removing Edenilson for a more offensive man like Pedrinho; the second, by retiring Pereira for an attacker like Jader Valencia and returning to his traditional 4-2-3-1.
The Argentine claimed the prize thanks to the union of his two most dangerous men. Hulk eluded Larry Vasquez andn the left and shot to the back of Perlaza, where Paulinho entered quickly to open the account with an unassailable header for Montero.
With the need in tow, Millionaires, who suffered the casualties of two starters, the left back Ómar Bertel and the center back Andrés Llinás, sought equality and the game opened.
No pressure, Mineiro played more freely and in this way he sentenced the series, again by air, with another header from Paulinho -author of the goal in Bogotá- after a beautiful association with Patrick.
Hulk put his stamp with a Chilean striker in the final stretch of the match. After a recovery from Silva, Uribe reduced the win for a ‘Galo’ who now dreams of his second cupbearer title, after the elevation in 2013.
