Atletico Mineiro Ronaldinho, Copa Libertadores champion for the first time

Last update 25 July, 2013 por Alberto Llopis

Atlético Mineiro won their first Copa Libertadores in a dramatic penalty shootout in which they beat Paraguayan Olimpia after coming from behind in regulation time on 2-0 Ronaldinho's team had to live a new tie with epic airs, decided from penalties, to which he seems to have become accustomed in this Libertadores. He qualified for the semifinals thanks to a penalty saved in added time against Tijuana and needed to go to the eleven-meter throws against Newell's to access the decisive phase.

The first part was from Olimpia, that tied the hands of Atlético Mineiro with a totally defensive drawing, but the brazilian team, led by an intermittent Ronaldinho, ended up imposing his technique and his physical superiority in the second half, where Jó opened the scoring in the first minute of the second act.

In full local arreón and with Olimpia playing with 10 for the expulsion of Manzur, Leonardo Silva would score an agonizing goal four minutes from the end that tied the tie and took the match to extra time, where the Brazilians crashed a ball into the post that could well have avoided the penalty shootout.

Finally, It was not like that and from eleven meters, a save by Víctor and a shot outside by Giménez certified Atlético Mineiro's first title in the top continental South American competition and Ronaldinho's entry into a select club, who has won the European Cup, Libertadores Cup, Mundial, America Cup, he has been an olympic medalist, National League and Cup champion. En definitiva, a finishing touch to a dream career.

We must remember that Atlético Mineiro has a Brasilerao in its record and that its entire squad is made up of Brazilian players. Good symptom for one of the greats of South American football.