Boca Swallows Another Brazilian Club in a Libertadores Final

By: Bruno Romani | June 20th, 2007

Boca has just won its 6th title of the Copa Libertadores, 4 against Brazilian teams (Cruzeiro-77, Palmeiras-01, Santos-03, Gremio-07).

Riquelme played a fine match, scored twice, and made history. The 2-0 made the Olimpico stadium a cemetery.

Update:

Wednesday night, Boca Juniors took a trip to its favorite place when it wants to celebrate a Copa Libertadores title, Brazil. Four titles out of the six that Boca has were won in Brazil, more than any Brazilian club has ever achieved. The victims were Cruzeiro in 77, Palmeiras in 01, Santos in 03 and now Grêmio in 07. In fact, when it comes to facing Brazilian clubs knock-out competitions, Boca is an indestructible giant. Just in the 21st century, Boca as eliminated Vasco (Libertadores 01), Palmeiras (Libertadores 01), Paysandu (Libertadores 03), Santos (Libertadores 03), São Caetano (Libertadores 04), Internacional (Sulamericana 04), Internacional again (Sulamericana 05), and São Paulo (Recopa 06).The funeral of the immortal Grêmio started last week in Buenos Aires, and Boca went to Brazil just to close the coffin and bury it. The match started with the fans singing and trying to create the sparkle that would set the Olímpico on fire. But time passed, and Grêmio was scared, as if they could see the Death in the mirror. And death had a name tonight: Riquelme.

He conducted the ball, controlled the game, levitated on the field. He made history. In the first-half Boca had the best chances of opening the score, placing on the shoulders of Grêmio the silence of its fans. Never a team seemed so fragile and tied up to failure in a final of Copa Libertadores. Grêmio had hit its limit. Defender Teco had a knee-injury and Diego Souza hit the post before half-time.

The second-half begins with Amoroso replacing playmaker Tcheco, tired. Two minutes later, the ex-Boca defender Schiavi, who replaced Teco, almost scores. The header hit the post and Diego Souza missed the rebound. The best chance of the night passed by, even though for the next 10 minutes a territorial pressure existed.

After that, Riquelme, took the ball like a kid who owns it and carries it under his arms. Passing, dribbling, controlling, making Grêmio’s defenders to start a hunt. Suddenly, it seemed that Brazilians were Argentines and vice-versa. Grêmio’s fans claim to be the most Argentine of Brazilian clubs, so maybe playing such a nervous match as a form of paying tribute.

In the 24th mark, Riquelme again. The number 10 scored a goal of a number 10. Long-shot, precise, silence. The Libertadores was over 20 minutes before its deadline. With that, it became even easier for the trio Riquelme, Palermo and Palácio. No one has that power in South-America. 12 minutes after the first goal, Riquelme scored the second in a counterattack which wasn’t bothered by walking adversaries.

Lucas, clearly having physical problems, was having a bitter farewell party. He barely knew fans would still boo him off.

In the 39th mark, Schiavi, aware that the tournament had a winner, seemed to give a little present to his friend Palermo by making a unnecessary penalty in a crossing done by Riquelme. Palermo, the folkloric striker, took it, and as expected, missed the target.

Grêmio completed the saga of true heroes who leave home to fight epic battles and just return to die. The Olímpico turned into a cemetery. Boca Juniors is the Libertadores Champions again.