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Fluminense Advance To Final At Boca's
Expense. Fluminense advanced to the grand
final of the 2008 Copa Libertadores after
defeating defending champions Boca Juniors
3-1 in a thrilling encounter at a packed
Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
The match began with a frantic pace, as
Fluminense pushed forward in numbers, to the
appreciation of the 100,000 home fans that
packed the Maracana stadium.
Fluminense, who are currently bottom of the
Brazilian First Division standings, could
have gone ahead early on, when veteran
striker Washington blasted the ball over the
Boca cross-bar from close range.
After the initial fifteen minutes, that were
mainly dominated by Flu, Boca began to come
more into the match, and they wasted an
incredible opportunity to go ahead, when
Martin Palermo shot wide from inside of the
area.
Minutes later Palermo met a cross with a
powerful header, but Fluminense goalkeeper
Fernando Henrique made a good save.
In the 27th minute Flu were awarded an
inviting free-kick, but Thiago Neves fired
the ball over the cross-bar, to the
disappointment of his teammates.
Not long after Juan Roman Riquelme had his
opportunity to impress, but the gifted
playmaker lifted his free-kick over the bar
as well.
Five minutes before half-time Palermo almost
broke the dead-lock, but he saw his powerful
header well saved by an alert Henrique.
Boca played slightly the better football in
the first period, but went into the break
knowing that they needed to score a goal in
the second half to avoid elimination.
After the break Boca pushed forward, and a
long-range Rodrigo Palacio effort was pushed
out for a corner-kick by Henrique, as
violence between the Boca supporters and the
local police began in the terraces.
However, play resumed, and Flu moved forward
in numbers, and a powerful Cicero drive was
inches away from putting the Brazilians in
the lead.
In the 55th minute Flu piled heavy pressure
on the Boca goal, but it came to nothing, as
the Argentines moved forward.
Boca looked extremely dangerous, and from the
run of play they went ahead when Palermo met
a precise cross with a powerful header at the
back post. It was Palermo's seventh goal of
the tournament.
Minutes later Washington hit back for
Fluminense when he curled in a magnificent
free-kick that took Pablo Migliore by
surprise.
In the 71st minute Flu won the ball in the
midfield and broke on the counterattack with
Dario Conca, who saw his harmless cross
deflect past Migliore and into the back of
the net.
But Boca didn't let this affect them, and
they created several clear opportunities to
get level, and would have done so if it
wasn't for the heroics of Henrique, and for
the woodwork. Minutes later a Pablo Ledesma
effort flashed wide of the right post.
Fluminense could have sealed their birth in
the final of the Copa Libertadores in the
82nd minute, but they wasted the opportunity.
In injury time Junior charged into the box
from the left wing, but although he beat
Migliore his delicate effort came off the
left post. But Fluminense kept at it.
Seconds later Dodo sealed Boca's fate when he
got the better of two Boca defenders and then
beat Migliore with an easy finish.
Fluminense recorded a memorable 3-1 victory
over Boca, and advanced to the final of the
2008 Copa Libertadores where they will meet
Liga de Quito of Ecuador in the final.
Tags : fluminense rio de janeiro boca juniors maracana semifinal copa libertadores america 2008 dodo martin palermo Taça |
