David Luiz saw the Copa Libertadores slip away before his eyes.
Saturday night, we play the 95th minute of play in the final of the South American Champions League between Palmeiras, club from Sao Paulo and defending champion and Flamengo, legendary team from Rio de Janeiro.
Back to back at the end of regulation time, the two Brazilian teams will have to decide in overtime in the stadium of the Uruguayan capital, Montevideo.
A monumental mistake!
Palmeiras obviously seizes the opportunity to regain the advantage! #LequipeFOOT pic.twitter.com/sKoJztPOuo
- the L'Équipe channel (@lachainelequipe) November 27, 2021
Eccentric on the left side, the former defender of Paris Saint-Germain is pressed by Deyverson and sends a back pass to his teammate Andreas Pereira.
Himself pressed by the Palmeiras striker who has just entered the game, the former Red Devil decides to give the ball to his goalkeeper but completely misses his transmission.
The number 9 of the Greens grabs the ball and wins his duel with the goalkeeper of Flamengo with a flat right foot well executed which offers a resounding double to the Paulista club.
Two equalizer balls for the former European champion
In a Centenario won for the cause of Flamengo, it was Palmeiras who quickly opened the scoring, from the fourth minute of play through Raphael Veiga.
It all started with an opening by Paraguayan central defender Gustavo Gomes who found Mayke on the right wing.
This last center back for the midfielder whose strike in first intention leaves no chance to David Alves.
Subsequently, the meeting somewhat lacked rhythm.
With his opener, Palmeiras preferred to secure his advantage and focus on counter-attacks to try to increase it while Flamengo pushed to equalize and obtained great opportunities on set pieces in particular.
Phases of the game that David Luiz particularly appreciates from the height of his 89 meter. Returning from the locker room, the former Chelsea defender cuts a cross from Pereira at the near post with a lobed header that dies next to the right post from Weverton.
A few minutes later, Everton Ribeiro still finds the former Seleção player on a distant free kick.
The 34-year-old Brazilian sneaks behind Palmeiras 'defense at the far post and controls the ball but his handover at the last minute is countered for a corner by the hand at point blank range of the Greens' goalkeeper.
An unprecedented double for 20 years
Flamengo finally found the solution in the 72nd minute thanks to a nice one-two on the left wing between serial scorer Gabriel Barbosa and Giorgian De Arrascaeta.
An equalization that allows Gabigol to culminate at the top of the ranking of the best scorers of the 2021 edition of the Copa Libertadores with eleven achievements.
The winners of the 2019 edition will nevertheless be surprised by Palmeiras at the very start of extra time and will not be able to come back to score a second time.
Palmeiras raises the #CopaLibertadores!
👏🎉 # lequipeFOOT pic.twitter.com/om5sAfR5vf
- the L'Équipe channel (@lachainelequipe) November 27, 2021
Arrived two months ago from Arsenal, David Luiz thus misses the opportunity to rub shoulders with Ronaldinho, Carlos Tévez, Dida or even Neymar on the short list of the eleven players who have won the Champions League and the Copa Libertadores during their career. .
For his part, Palmeiras won the continental trophy for the third time in its history and therefore retained his title, a first since Boca Juniors twenty years earlier.
At the start of 2022, the Sao Paulo club will participate in the Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates where it could cross paths with Chelsea, winner of the Champions League in 2021.
