Flamengo qualified on Thursday for the quarter-finals of the South American Libertadores Championship. Despite losing 1-0 at 3,650 metres in La Paz to Bolivar, it was enough for them to win the match 2-1 on aggregate and face Peñarol.
The Bolivians needed to overturn a 2-0 deficit in the first leg at the Maracana, but The goal scored by the team’s Brazilian midfielder Bruno Savio in the 56th minute was not enough to achieve the long-awaited comeback.
The two teams played a graceful match, with Bolivar building play from his goal and Fla showing he would not give up on the attack.
Led by Tite, they sought to inflict damage on the right sector and with Gerson, who had three chances to open the account, one of which was a one-on-one that he lost to goalkeeper Carlos Lampe.
The Bolivian Academy searched for Agustin Rossi’s goal amidst the offside of Brazilian Bruno Savio and the danger of Fabio Gomez inside the area.
Ramiro Vaca had the clearest option to open the scoring, but his shot from the edge of the six-yard box was saved by the Argentine goalkeeper of Mengao.
Rossi was tasked with calming the game down by taking his time to resume play after the ball crossed the baseline.
Flamengo had a chance to score immediately after the start of the second half, but Ayrton wasted it in front of Lampe, who was defeated.
Savio immediately responded with a shot that hit the Brazilian team’s crossbar, and minutes later he took revenge with a header after a cross that beat Rossi.
Titi rethought his plan and chose to resist and preserve the result.
Henry Vaca’s last-minute strike could have sent the game to penalties but his shot hit the crossbar.
Flamengo face Uruguay’s Penarol in the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores. That the day before the strongest Bolivia was eliminated.
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