By Lisa Flueckiger, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Atlético Minas Gerais win the second leg of the Copa do Brasil final in the Mineirão stadium with 1×0 and are crowned Cup champion. The overall score after the two games of 3×0 for Galo shows the dominance they had over their fellow Belo Horizonte club and 2014 Serie A champion Cruzeiro.
It is the first time for Atlético-MG to win the Copa do Brasil, which guarantees participation in next year’s Libertadores, the Latin American Champions League. The Libertadores competition will begin on February 4, 2015, while the groups for the first stage are already drawn on December 2nd.
Even though Atlético-MG had already won the first leg of the final by 2×0 they showed their will to win yesterday (November 26th) at the Mineirão. They played better than Cruzeiro and Diego Tardelli’s goal after 47 minutes (in the extra time of the first half) was therefore enough to bring the victory home.
After the goal, Cruzeiro would have needed four goals to turn the tide and still take victory home. But they didn’t have much to counter Galo’s attacks and persistence.
Atlético-MG had already largely dominated the first leg of the final at their home ground, the Independência stadium. Goals from Luan and Dátolo decided the first Belo Horizonte clássico.
The rivalry between these two clubs from Minas Gerais has been exemplary of the Brazilian football competitions this year with both Brasileirão and now Copa champion coming from the same city, but not the same club.
Earlier in the week, two rounds before the end of the other more prestigious national tournament, the 2014 Brasileirão, Cruzeiro was crowned champion. It is the second title in a row for the club from Belo Horizonte and the fourth in total.