Barcelona SC couldn’t beat Jailson, a 40-year-old goalkeeper who was already thinking about retirement; he says that the referee congratulated him ‘for the game he played’

The inexperienced and until recently unknown América Mineiro of Brazil, in just his fourth match in Copa Libertadores history, all played in the preliminary round, left two-time finalist Barcelona Sporting Club out of the group stage of the main tournament in Conmebol for teams.

The Canarians, who in the 2021 Cup semifinal prevented a full Brazilian squad in that instance, fell to a modest opponent from that country.

In a penalty shootout completed on Tuesday night, in the return duel for the third previous turn, after a 0-0 aggregate, the bullfighters’ dream of seeking a classification for the only final that this year was undone will play at the Monumental Banco Pichincha stadium. They also said goodbye to $ 3 million for competing in the group stage (not counting the income that was calculated for advancing in the Libertadores and at the box office).

The person responsible for the cup elimination of Barcelona SC was goalkeeper Jailson Marcelino dos Santos, who will turn 40 on July 20. The goalkeeper, called a hero of América Mineiro by the Brazilian press, was about to retire from soccer a few months ago, but changed his mind because his wife convinced him. Jailson stopped a charge from Leonel Quiñónez and that was key: his team won 5-4 in the shooting of maximum penalties.

Penalty shootout in 2017

In addition, for Jailson it was a revenge because in his second penalty shootout against Barcelona, ​​for the Libertadores, this time he was successful. That did not happen in the definition of the round of 16 first leg of the 2017 edition, when in Sao Paulo the yellows hit five of six charges against Palmeiras, who with Jailson in goal was fired from the contest.

Five years ago, after a victory by side, both 1-0, the overall score did not go uneven in 180 minutes. At the Allianz Parque Jailson he was defeated by shots from Jonatan Álvez, Matías Oyola, Segundo Castillo, Marcos Caicedo and José Ayoví; the only one who made a mistake was Damián Díaz. Barcelona thus got into the quarterfinals because Palmeiras scored four of his six shots.

Now the story is different. Jailson made a couple of stops in Guayaquil that were destined for goals and that would have implied, if materialized, the victory of Barcelona and the farewell of América Mineiro. Jackson laughs. His club celebrates. The yellows and their fans lament.

“America-MG is, for the first time in its history, classified to the group stage of the Libertadores. Much of this was due to goalkeeper Jailson, essential for the team during the qualifying stage. In an interview after the game, the goalkeeper said that he was thinking of retiring this year before reaching the rabbit (nickname of América Mineiro, who signed him a couple of months ago after spending eight seasons with Palmeiras), review Sports Gazette to highlight the veteran goalkeeper.

almost retired

Jailson dedicated the feat of the modest team that defends his wife. “This victory today (Tuesday) is for my wife. I was going to stop playing this year and she told me ‘no, keep going, God has good things for you’. So, I dedicate this victory to you, love,” said the goalkeeper in statements collected by several Brazilian media outlets.

The newspaper OR Tempo, from Belo Horizonte, recalled that the goalkeeper who destroyed Barcelona’s illusions was “hired this season to replace Matheus Cavichioli, who underwent heart surgery. Jailson had already been a hero in America’s classification in the previous phase of the Libertadores, against Guaraní, from Asunción. On that occasion, the goalkeeper stopped the Paraguayan club’s last penalty kick in the penalty shootout, also won 5-4″.

congratulated by the referee

Jailson told the Minas state newspaper of the jail prisoner Leonel Quiñónez arrested: “Thank God I was able to make that save and help America make history with this position in the group stage of the Libertadores. The referee (Patricio Loustau, Argentine), who said that he deserved to take (cover) the penalty for the match I played”.

Coach Marquinhos Santos valued Jailson’s experience, 40 years old, at the service of América. “Having a goalkeeper like Jailson makes a difference. He is an experienced archer. Jailson, because of his experience and everything he has done in football, was very important. The crying (after the series with Barcelona) shows that. He is a consecrated athlete who knew how to show that emotion transmitted by the American fans throughout the history of the club and the squad”, commented the coach. (D)