Glorioso returns to the Libertadores semifinals after seven years
Botafogo traveled to the Allianz Parque to face Palmeiras in the first leg of the Libertadores round of 16, and confirmed their ranking with a hard-fought 2-2 draw away from home. Igor Jesus and Savarino opened the scoring for Alvingro, but Flaco López and Rony left it all the same for Verdão.
In a reserved tone, coach Artur Jorge spoke about Glorioso’s good performance in Sao Paulo, but made it clear that the goals conceded in the final minutes bother him. For the coach, Botafogo knew how to suffer and valued Palmeiras as an opponent.
– We had a rival of great quality, because this ending shows the spirit of this team. In both games we were superior. Not only at home, but also here. We had a very good first half, very solid. In the second half we were effective in what we created and we had the chance to score more goals. And those last five crazy minutes, which took away our chance to win both games, which was what we wanted. Still angry, because we came to win and that was what we wanted. We managed to hold on to the draw, which allowed us to continue the competition as we wanted.
Practically on the last ball of the match, Gustavo Gómez scored the goal that would have changed Palmeiras’ fortunes and sent the match to penalties, but it was disallowed due to a touch on the defender’s hand. The Portuguese stressed that this type of move “cannot happen”.
– We make each other pay because we have the highest demands. This cannot happen. We have to charge ourselves. As a coach, I ask myself what I did wrong to make this happen.
Despite the scare at his rival’s home, Artur Jorge celebrated the ranking and congratulated the players for their commitment.
– We always said that we would come to play, to win. Knowing that the advantage obtained in Rio was important, but not enough to relax in the match, we would have. This was the attitude we had, which enhances even more what we achieved.
Source: Terra
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