Palmeiras conquer South America to book Qatar 2020 spot
- Injury-time goal earns Copa Libertadores glory for Palmeiras
- Second continental title for O Verdao after their 1999 win
- The Brazilian side will represent South America at the Club World Cup
With extra-time seemingly inevitable, Palmeiras conjured up a stoppage-time goal to beat Santos in Saturday’s Copa Libertadores final at the Maracana and claim the trophy for the second time in their history.
The hero of the competition’s third all-Brazilian final was Breno Lopes. It was his header from a pinpoint Rony cross in the ninth minute of injury time that secured the trophy for O Verdao and with it a ticket to the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020™ as South America’s representatives. The matchwinner was only three years old when Palmeiras won their one and only previous Libertadores crown back in 1999.
Three-time champions Santos were left to rue their misfortune at the end of a hard-fought game of few chances. The first shot on target did not come until the 77th minute, as both sides adopted a cautious, safety-first approach in this latest edition of the Clássico da Saudade, as the fixture is known in Brazil and which loosely translates as the ‘Nostalgia Derby’.
Qatar and the Club World Cup now await for Abel Ferreira’s side, who will take on Tigres or Ulsan in the first semi-final, to be played on Sunday 7 February.
The final in photos
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Commemoration of the title after Palmeiras x Santos, valid match for the Final of the Copa Libertadores 2020
31 Jan 2021
Palmeiras x Santos RIO DE JANEIRO, RJ – 30.01.2021: PALMEIRAS X SANTOS – Commemoration of the title after Palmeiras x Santos, valid match for the Final of the Copa Libertadores 2020, held at Maracanã stadium, located in the city of Rio de Janeiro (RJ), this Saturday (30). (Photo: Nayra Halm/Fotoarena) x2026494x PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxBRA NayraxHalm
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Felipe Mello in celebration of the title after Palmeiras x Santos
31 Jan 2021
Palmeiras x Santos RIO DE JANEIRO, RJ – 30.01.2021: PALMEIRAS X SANTOS – Felipe Mello in celebration of the title after Palmeiras x Santos, a match valid for the Final of the Copa Libertadores 2020, held at the Maracanã stadium, located in the city of Rio de Janeiro (RJ), this Saturday (30). (Photo: Nayra Halm/Fotoarena) x2026493x PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxBRA NayraxHalm
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Rony of Palmeiras lift the Copa Conmebol Libertadores trophy
31 Jan 2021
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – JANUARY 30: Rony of Palmeiras lift the Copa Conmebol Libertadores trophy ,during the final of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020 between SE Palmeiras and Santos FC at Maracana Stadium on January 30, 2021 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by MB Media/BPA) SPO, SOC PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY
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Libertadores Cup trophy
31 Jan 2021
30th January 2021; Maracana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Libertadores Cup, Final, Palmeiras versus Santos; The winners trophy in profile PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUK ActionPlus12263863 DiaEsportivo
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Felipe Melo of Palmeiras lifts the champions trophy after a the final match of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020 between Palmeiras and Santos
30 Jan 2021
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – JANUARY 30: Felipe Melo of Palmeiras lifts the champions trophy after a the final match of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020 between Palmeiras and Santos at Maracanã Stadium on January 30, 2021 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Silvia Izquierdo – Pool/Getty Images)
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Players of Palmeiras celebrate with the Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores trophy
30 Jan 2021
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – JANUARY 30: Players of Palmeiras celebrate with the Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores trophy after the final of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020 between Palmeiras and Santos at Maracanã Stadium on January 30, 2021 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Silvia Izquierdo – Pool/Getty Images)
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Felipe Melo and Gustavo Gomez of Palmeiras lift the Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores trophy
30 Jan 2021
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – JANUARY 30: Felipe Melo and Gustavo Gomez of Palmeiras lift the Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores trophy after the final of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020 between Palmeiras and Santos at Maracanã Stadium on January 30, 2021 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Silvia Izquierdo – Pool/Getty Images)
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Palmeiras Champion Conmebol Libertadores 2020.
31 Jan 2021
Palmeiras Champion Conmebol Libertadores 2020. January 30, 2021, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Palmeiras beats Santos 1-0 to win the Conmebol Libertadores 2020 final at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. The 2 teams are from Brazil. Few fans are allowed to watch the game at the stadium to contain the spread of Coronavirus. Palmeiras is now two times libertadores champion. PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUSA Copyright: xLecoxVianax
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Luan of Palmeiras embraces the Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores trophy after the final of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020
30 Jan 2021
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – JANUARY 30: Luan of Palmeiras embraces the Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores trophy after the final of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020 between Palmeiras and Santos at Maracanã Stadium on January 30, 2021 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Silvia Izquierdo – Pool/Getty Images)
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Breno Lopes of Palmeiras celebrates after scoring a goal during the final of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020 between Palmeiras and Santos
30 Jan 2021
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – JANUARY 30: Breno Lopes of Palmeiras celebrates after scoring a goal during the final of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020 between Palmeiras and Santos at Maracanã Stadium on January 30, 2021 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Mauro Pimentel – Pool/Getty Images)
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Breno Lopes with the champion cup after celebrating the title after Palmeiras x Santos
31 Jan 2021
Palmeiras x Santos RIO DE JANEIRO, RJ – 30.01.2021: PALMEIRAS X SANTOS – Breno Lopes with the champion cup after celebrating the title after Palmeiras x Santos, a valid match for the Copa Libertadores 2020 Final, held at Maracanã stadium, located in the city of Rio de Janeiro (RJ), this Saturday (30). (Photo: Nayra Halm/Fotoarena) x2026488x PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxBRA NayraxHalm
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Marinho (F) of Santos reacts after the final of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020 between Palmeiras and Santos
30 Jan 2021
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – JANUARY 30: Marinho (F) of Santos reacts after the final of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020 between Palmeiras and Santos at Maracanã Stadium on January 30, 2021 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Mauro Pimentel – Pool/Getty Images)
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Palmeiras v Santos – Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020 Final – Coach of Palmeiras Abel Ferreira gestures
30 Jan 2021
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – JANUARY 30: Coach of Palmeiras Abel Ferreira gestures before the final of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020 between Palmeiras and Santos at Maracanã Stadium on January 30, 2021 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ricardo Moraes – Pool/Getty Images)
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Alison of Santos controls the ball during the final of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020 between Palmeiras and Santos
30 Jan 2021
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – JANUARY 30: Alison of Santos controls the ball during the final of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020 between Palmeiras and Santos at Maracanã Stadium on January 30, 2021 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ricardo Moraes – Pool/Getty Images)
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Palmeiras v Santos – Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020 Final – Marinho of Santos reacts
30 Jan 2021
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – JANUARY 30: Marinho of Santos reacts during the final of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020 between Palmeiras and Santos at Maracanã Stadium on January 30, 2021 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Mauro Pimentel – Pool/Getty Images)
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Danilo of Palmeiras fights for the ball with Yeferson Soteldo of Santos during the final of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020 between Palmeiras and Santos
30 Jan 2021
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – JANUARY 30: Danilo of Palmeiras fights for the ball with Yeferson Soteldo of Santos during the final of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020 between Palmeiras and Santos at Maracanã Stadium on January 30, 2021 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Silvia Izquierdo – Pool/Getty Images)
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Palmeiras v Santos – Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020 Final – Coach Cuca of Santos gestures
30 Jan 2021
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – JANUARY 30: Coach Cuca of Santos gestures during the final of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020 between Palmeiras and Santos at Maracanã Stadium on January 30, 2021 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Mauro Pimentel – Pool/Getty Images)
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Palmeiras v Santos – Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020 Final – Rony (R) of Palmeiras competes for the ball with Para
30 Jan 2021
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – JANUARY 30: Rony (R) of Palmeiras competes for the ball with Para of Santos during the final of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020 between Palmeiras and Santos at Maracanã Stadium on January 30, 2021 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Mauro Pimentel – Pool/Getty Images)
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Palmeiras v Santos – Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020 Final
30 Jan 2021
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – JANUARY 30: Yeferson Soteldo of Santos reacts during the final of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020 between Palmeiras and Santos at Maracanã Stadium on January 30, 2021 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Mauro Pimentel – Pool/Getty Images)
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Breno Lopes (B) of Palmeiras celebrates with his teammate after scoring a goal during the final of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020 between Palmeiras and Santos
30 Jan 2021
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – JANUARY 30: Breno Lopes (B) of Palmeiras celebrates with his teammate after scoring a goal during the final of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020 between Palmeiras and Santos at Maracanã Stadium on January 30, 2021 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Mauro Pimentel – Pool/Getty Images) (Photo by Pool/Getty Images)
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Palmeiras v Santos – Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020 Final – Players of Palmeiras huddle
30 Jan 2021
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – JANUARY 30: Players of Palmeiras huddle during the final of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020 between Palmeiras and Santos at Maracanã Stadium on January 30, 2021 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ricardo Moraes – Pool/Getty Images)
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The stats
The number of European coaches who have won the Copa Libertadores. The latest member of this very select club is Verdao coach Abel Ferreira. Like last season’s winning coach, Jorge Jesus, the 42-year-old Ferreira is Portuguese. The Croatian Mirko Jozic was the first of the three, steering Colo-Colo to success in 1991.
The number of assists Rony provided in this season’s Copa Libertadores, more than any other player. He saved the most important of the lot for Saturday’s final: a perfectly flighted cross for Breno to head home.
What they said
“I can’t describe how it feels. I’m going to treasure this man of the match award. I’m so happy. I’ve worked hard for this opportunity and now I’m going to enjoy it and celebrate with our fans.”
Palmeiras goalscorer Breno
“We’re hurting. We came so close, but that’s football. Nobody thought we’d get this far. There was a huge amount of responsibility on us today. This really hurts, especially for the fans who follow us. We knew it was going to be a really tight game, a very hard game, and then we go and concede right at the end. We have to come back from this now.”
Santos captain Alison
Did you know?
Breno does the unexpected
Rony and Luiz Adriano went into the final as Palmeiras’ leading goalscorers in this year’s Libertadores with five goals apiece. The duo were surprisingly upstaged, however, by Breno, who scored only his second goal for O Verdao, the first having come just a few days earlier, in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Vasco da Gama.
Maracana a happy hunting ground for Weverton
Winning a final at the Maracana does not happen every day, so to win two in your career is some achievement, as Palmeiras keeper Weverton can vouch for. In fine form throughout the tournament, the Verdao custodian was also between the posts when Brazil won Olympic gold at the stadium at Rio 2016, when he saved the last penalty in the shootout that decided the final.
MVP award some consolation for Marinho
Having starred for Santos throughout the competition, Marinho failed to fire in the final, though he at least had the satisfaction of collecting the player of the tournament award. Before the game, he was spotted touching the trophy, an act that many believe brings bad luck. Gabigol did the same before last season’s final but had better fortune than Marinho, scoring twice late on to secure the title for Flamengo.