Junior was devastating: great victory against Botafogo and in Brazil, in the Copa Libertadores

Junior went to Brazil for the feat and achieved it. He categorically defeated Botafogo, at home, 3-1, in his debut in the group stage of the Copa Libertadores. Carlos Bacca scored two goals and Gabriel Fuentes put the other one. A victory that excites the Shark.

Junior got excited very quickly, not only because he stopped well and gave the Brazilians problems, but because very early the situation favored him when Enamorado forged a penalty handball from Hugo. No matter how much the locals argued, the hand was clear. Carlos Bacca took the ball and defined a corner very well to make it 0-1 in 12 minutes of play.

Junior was devastating. Minutes later he had the second in a cross shot from Enamorado. Botafogo was surprised, he could not control the speed of the coastal attack. In a next attempt, Junior celebrated again, it was in a fast exit, from Chará to Enamorado, the defense was poorly stopped, the center to the area where Gabriel Fuentes appeared to finish and score the second goal, in 28 minutes.

The Brazilian team was very fragile in defense, it gave a lot of space, it retreated badly, and in attack it could not find a spark with its forwards. They were not intimidating. Junior took advantage of all of this to manage the result, exasperating his rival and with quick attacks. Junior's third goal was more likely than Botafogo's discount.

And it arrived. Junior grew up in Brazilian soil, he played with such comfort that he began to play with precision, but without losing sight of the Brazilian goal. At 41 minutes came a deep pass from Fuentes to Bacca that he faced as in his best times, eluded the goalkeeper and scored to make it 0-3, which was already a win.

The score was already a total surprise for Botafogo, for its fans who were silenced. Until Hugo took an unmarked shot inside the area, after a handball protested by Junior, and in the 44th minute he added time to give his team some life and so that Junior wouldn't get overconfident. It was a vibrant first half.

For the second half, Botafogo came out to devour Junior, to seek to shorten the gap and recover from their bad first half. But when he tried, goalkeeper Mele appeared to be the great savior of his goal. Junior felt the hurricane, but he did not let himself be intimidated, he did not lose concentration.

Beyond having to push themselves harder in the face of the local onslaught, the team remained solid, with sporadic outings on the attack.

Time was up and Junior left Brazil with 3 very valuable points in group D. Their next match will be against Universitario de Perú, who beat Liga de Quito, 2-1. They will play in Barranquilla next Tuesday.

PABLO ROMERO

SPORTS

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