Fortaleza makes four at Boca Juniors and wins historic game in the South American

In a game that goes down in club history, the Strength beat Boca Juniors 4-2, on Thursday night (25), at Arena Castelão, in the capital of Ceará. The game was valid for the third round of Group D of the South American Cup.

The undisputed victory over the traditional Argentine club, six-time Libertadores champion, placed Leão in a privileged position in the group, with nine points, five more than the Argentines, who have four.

Sportivo Trinidense-PAR completes the classification, with three points, and Nacional Potosí-BOL, with one.

More than 53 thousand people filled Castelão, on a hot night, common in the capital of Ceará, but which marked the club’s fifth official clash against a traditional Argentine team. After facing River Plate, Estudiantes, Independiente and San Lorenzo, it was time to face, and beat, Boca.

The teams had already faced each other in 2010, at Castelão, in a friendly. Leão beat a reserve team mixed with Boca boys 3-1, in front of 7 thousand people. Very different context this Thursday.

Fortaleza’s goals were scored by Lucero, twice, and Pikachu, also twice. Merentiel, ex-Palmeiras, and Zenón did that for Boca.

Devastating second half

Coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda, from Fortaleza, bet on his Argentine squad to face one of the biggest Argentine clubs: five players born in the neighboring country started playing: the defense duo Brítez and Cardona, midfielder Pochettino and forwards Machuca and Lucero.

And it was Lucero who opened the scoring, with a pass from Pochettino after a mistake when the ball was thrown by Boca. 1-0 after three minutes, which exploded a Castelão that was already effervescent.

Little by little, however, Boca gained ground. Even with a mixed team, without its star, Cavani, who was spared and did not travel to Brazil, and with Rojo and Advíncula on the bench, the Argentine team created chances until a draw.

Former Palmeiras native Merentiel took advantage of the lack of attention from the Brazilian defense, and was well positioned in the small area to complete Saralegui’s cross.

From then on, Boca did what they are experts at: they cooked the game, always posing danger in counterattacks against a Fortaleza team with no offensive power.

The second half started like the first: Lucero’s goal after Pochettino’s cross. If Fortaleza’s football disappeared in the final part of the first half, in the second half the team came back strong.

In the ninth minute, Yago Pikachu took off, invaded the area and shot at Romero’s corner. And it was Pikachu who scored the fourth, taking advantage of Machuca’s move on the left and scoring with his chest. A beautiful goal. Fortaleza would miss a few more chances to extend the score, and in the end Zenón even scored one more for Boca.

Upcoming games

Fortaleza returns to the field next Sunday (28), in the fourth round of the Brazilian Series A, against Red Bull Bragantino, at Arena Castelão. The game will be at 6:30 pm (Brasília time).

In the South American Championship, Leão will face Nacional Potosí, in Bolivia, on May 8, in the fourth round of Group D. The game will be at 9 pm (Brasília time).

Fortaleza 4 x 2 Boca Juniors

Strength

João Ricardo; Yago Pikachu, Brítez, Tomás Cardona (Titi) and Bruno Pacheco; Zé Welison (Lucas Sasha), Pedro Augusto, Hércules (Martinez) and Pochettino; Lucero (Renato Kayzer) and Machuca (Moisés). Coach: Juan Pablo Vojvoda.

Boca Juniors

Romero; Di Lollo (Advíncula), Lema, Figal and Saracchi; Saralegui, Medina, Equi Fernández and Fabra (Zenón); Langoni (Briasco) and Merentiel. Coach: Diego Martínez.

Goals:
Lucero (3min1ºT), (5min2ºT), Yago Pikachu (9min2ºT), (17min2ºT) for Fortaleza
Merentiel (20min1°T), Zenón (39min2°T) for Boca

Yellow Cards
Pedro Augusto, Lucas Sasha, Renato Kaizer (Fortaleza); Merentiel, Saracchi, Fernández (Boca)

Total audience: 53,428
Gross income: R$ 1,730,268.00

Reason: 3rd round of the Copa Sudamericana group stage
Date and time: April 25, 2024, at 9pm (Brasília time)
Local: Arena Castelão, in Fortaleza

Referee: Wilmar Roldán (Colombia)
Auxiliaries: Alexander Guzmán and John Gallego (both from Colombia)
VAR: Carlos Orbe (Ecuador)