The renewed (but mutilated) Copa Libertadores is in the best of hands. Fluminense is a magnificent champion, and more than that, no complaints any way you look at it: he always tried to play football, he always proposed, he is the one who won the most, the one with the most goals, the one with the best show… There are no dark sides, he had no benevolent arbitrations (much less in the finals). It is one of those result-oriented, ultra-tactical and defensive-minded people who consider a “stupid team” because it looks for the game and looks for it by handling the ball well. Finally, a champion who doesn’t win because he’s a “cupcake” or because he’s “intelligent”, but because of his good behavior. Precisely the only moment in which he threatened his crown was in the last part of the final duel, when he took cover for 2-1 in favor, and Boca pounced on him with crosses that could determine a hypothetical – and unfair – tie. But even in that field he knew how to defend his advantage.

It would be completely undeserved if Boca reached the tie and thus to the penalty shootout, where it is historically the favorite, in this case because of its goalkeeper Sergio Romero, who is fantastic in the art of blocking shots from twelve steps. If it had prevailed, Boca would have been the champion of negative records: with the fewest victories in history in tournaments of 12 or more games (only 4) and the only one that did not achieve a single win in the phase playoffs in 7 games. An unusual case. The fact that she went through phases without a good game, with no other merits than enduring in matches and showing courage in taking penalties, magnified the legend of the mystic from Boca, about her driving, about the weight of the shirt, about the fact that she can win even if she has nothing . This brought to Rio about 100,000 faithful who did their best to follow the colors, even knowing, three-quarters of them, that they would not get a ticket, only to support outside the stadium. It is certainly the biggest mobilization of fans for a football match. The legendary “Boca es Boca”, an aphorism that alludes to supernatural power for one’s own and admiration for others, succeeded like never before. Because he is superior in football, Fluminense respected him to the max.

Fluminense’s top scorer is Cano – the star of the tournament – with 13 goals, Boca is Advíncula, the right marker, with 4. There is a summary of what each is in a certain way. Eight wins for Flu, 4 for Boca, 24 goals for Tricolor, 13 for Auriazul. They are antipodes. But out of respect for the Boca shirt, the previous poll on Twitter gave a weak result in favor of the flu: 58.9% to 41.1%.

In an even first half, Fluminense celebrated with a spectacular goal. A brilliant wall between Ken and the Colombian Arias, a center behind Ken and a killer right hand from Can into the net. His 13th goal in 12 games. Remarkable about the Argentinian striker, already the idol of the Brazilian club. Definitely, Germán Cano is an honorary professor. He does everything first class in the area. He has a perfect shot, kicks the ball into the ball, but above all he doesn’t stop it, he doesn’t delay anything and that surprises the goalkeepers. Despite his 36 years of age, he looks in remarkable form and would deserve a prize if Scaloni called him up to the Argentina national team, perhaps for next year’s Copa América.

When nothing seemed to indicate it, Boca equalized through the brave and powerful Peruvian right-back Luis Advíncula. He received the ball near his point, started towards the middle, all the midfielders of Rio looked, looked, looked at him… and Advíncula took heart: a cross with his left foot and low to the far post. Double sin for the home defenders: 17 minutes earlier, Advíncula made the exact same play, copied, and his shot hit the outside of the net. Fluminense was defocused, did not press and they equalized the game which they won with authority. But, in overtime, John Kennedy, a 21-year-old garrote, appears to have given Flu the biggest victory of his 121 years. A combination in the air between Diego Barbosa and Ken, brought a header first for Kennedy and 9, as he entered the race, he put his heart out and fired at Chiquito Romero. He executed it. An outstanding goal to close the crowning campaign of a club that pioneered the excellent Brazilian football. He never failed to lift the Libertadores, he did it in a big way.

Fernando Diniz, his coach, is also the – temporary – coach of the Brazilian national team. This could bring him a definitive position at Verdeamarilla, as there are serious doubts that Carlo Ancelotti will take charge of the team in June. Choice. Diniz is the magnificent architect of a harmonious team that defies all athletic theories: it is full of veterans: goalkeeper Fabio, 43, his leader and central defender Felipe Melo, 40, two full-backs, Samuel Xavier and Marcelo, 33 and 35 respectively, Keno and Ganso 34, a scorer Cano almost 36, David Braz, midfielder 36… With them, he put together the best team in America.

Boca also hired the famous 36-year-old Édinson Cavani, scorer of 370 goals in Europe. He was the star of Boca. “The truth is that for me it’s the game of my life, because of everything that playing this game entails, because of where we’re going to play it, because of the moment in my career as well,” he said earlier that day. However, his contribution was almost non-existent and he was heavily criticized, in the final and in the previous games, giving Marcelo Bielsa a reason not to call him up to the Uruguay national team, which is why native Rosario was under fire.

Wilmar Roldán is the best referee in South America, maybe in the world. He knows the rules and common sense. This time it didn’t shine. He was too lenient with Boca, with his hardness (he could or should have sent off Valentini for a headbutt to the face of Paulo Henrique Gans). He gave four extra minutes in the second overtime… It seemed as if he always gave Boca the last shot. With a distinctly unbiased character, she was eclipsed at the Maracana.

And since we are writing that name, an objection: knowing that 8 Brazilian teams enter the competition, Conmebol once again designates Rio de Janeiro as the only place for the final. It is very possible for the Brazilian club to reach the final stage, thus eliminating the neutrality of the match. Fluminense plays at home there at Maracana. Despite the crowd that Boca brought, it is still an advantage for the owner of the house.

Winning Fluo completes five consecutive titles for Brazilian clubs, including two from Flamengo and two from Palmeiras, which confirms their striking dominance in club terms, based, above all, on the strength of their football, but also on the budget issue. . If we count the last fourteen tournaments, those from the country of Carnival won ten. Super. And if there are no fundamental changes in football and the economies of South America, it will continue like this. Only Boca and River can fight against them. Next year, it seems, the River Stadium would be designated for definition, which would be a boost for Argentine teams.

The old aristocrat from Laranjeiras, who in the dawn of football used to attract the high society of Rio to his meetings, became a transvestite and got into the skin of the people. It became a Fla classic. It lacked a definite size name, but now it has one. Parabens, Fluminense…! (D)