Falcao’s Monumental Hat-Trick

Some great action in the Copa Sudamericana last night. The tournament is a bit like the Copa Libertadores, the difference being it doesn’t quite have the history (minus) but does feature CONCACAF teams (plus.) Either way, all the teams involved are in it to win it, especially when Brazilian and Argentine teams clash. Brazil’s Botafogo went to the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires leading Argentina’s River Plate by one goal from the first leg. What followed was all action, especially from River’s Colombian hat-trick hero Ramadel Falcao.

Botafogo extended their lead through Lucio Flavio in the 10th minute, River answered back with a Falcao diving header. Dodo gave the Brazilians a 66th minute 3-1 aggregate lead, but a long range strike from Falcao dragged River back into it. Both sides had ten men after Botafogo lost Ze Roberto in the 34th minute and River lost Federico Lusenhoff in the 57th. But with River 3-2 down on aggregate and reduced to nine men when Oscar Ahumada hit the showers in the 73rd, a comeback looked more than a little unlikely. But is still happened.

Andres Rios scored a very calmly placed shot to level things up, but River were still going out on away goals. Until Falcao sent the Monumental crowd monu-mental (sorry) when he rose to head home in injury time, getting himself a hat-trick and winning the tie 4-3 on aggregate to send River through to the quarterfinals.

All happy faces at River then, but frowny faces at Botafogo where coach Cuca has reportedly resigned, calling his position “unsustainable.” Botafogo’s’s press office more or less confirmed the rumours, casually saying “It’s not official, but the news is going around.”

Video via 101 Great Goals

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Category: South America