Botafogo Wins Copa Libertadores for the First Time with 10 Men
BUENOS AIRES: Botafogo secured their first-ever Copa Libertadores title with a 3-1 victory over fellow Brazilians Atletico Mineiro on Saturday. Despite playing almost the entire match with ten men after Gregore was sent off in the first minute, Botafogo displayed remarkable spirit and resilience to clinch the win at River Plate’s Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. This victory marks the sixth consecutive year that a Brazilian club has won South America’s premier club competition.
The 120-year-old Botafogo, based in Rio and with two Brazilian championships to their name, have a storied history that includes legends like Garrincha, Didi, Nilton Santos, and Mario Zagallo. However, they had long been taunted by rivals for not having won the continental title — a criticism that is now silenced.
The match took a difficult turn early when midfielder Gregore received a red card for a reckless challenge on Atletico’s Fauto Vera, forcing Botafogo to alter their tactics. However, Atletico Mineiro, despite their numerical advantage, failed to capitalize. Veteran forward Hulk had a long-range effort saved by Botafogo’s goalkeeper John, but Atletico created little offensive pressure throughout the match.
Rather than retreating into a defensive shell, Botafogo began to show more attacking intent. In the 35th minute, Marlon Freitas’s shot from outside the box deflected around a crowded penalty area before landing at the feet of Luiz Henrique, who slotted the ball home from close range.
Botafogo’s momentum continued, and they doubled their lead just before halftime in the 44th minute. Atletico defender Guilherme Arana attempted to pass the ball back to goalkeeper Everson, but Luiz Henrique intercepted the pass and was fouled by Everson as he tried to get to the ball. After a VAR review, a penalty was awarded, and Alex Telles converted confidently to give Botafogo a surprising 2-0 lead at the break.
Atletico, who won the Libertadores in 2013, made a triple substitution at halftime, which paid off quickly. Eduardo Vargas scored with a header off a corner to pull Atletico back into the game. Despite late pressure from Atletico, Botafogo sealed the victory in stoppage time when Junior Santos finished off a counter-attack to make it 3-1.
With this win, Botafogo earned a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup next year, which will be held in the United States.
Double Chance for Botafogo
Botafogo, owned by American businessman John Textor, now also has a chance to secure a double, as they are currently leading Brazil’s Serie A by three points with two games remaining, aiming for their third national title.
Luis Henrique, who has been in exceptional form this season and earned a call-up to the Brazil national team, shared his emotions after the win. “Many people tried to stop me, but I know that God is with me, my family is with me, and I have to keep my feet on the ground because there is still more to come,” the 23-year-old striker said. “I want to thank Botafogo a lot; Botafogo needs to be at the top because it’s a club that has been working hard and doing a lot on a daily basis”. — AFP