Chapecoense traveled to Venezuela to play their first-ever Copa Libertadores match, having qualified by virtue of winning South America’s secondary club competition, the Copa Sudamericana, in 2016.
Facing Zulia, the runner-up in Venezuela’s 2016 Primera Division, away and with a squad made up mostly of players on loan, players that did not board LaMia Flight 2933 and one survivor, defender Neto, Chapecoense entered the match as massive underdogs.
But Chapecoense took the lead off a clever free kick from Reinaldo, a defender on loan from Sao Paulo.
Chapecoense's first ever goal in the Copa Libertadores. History pic.twitter.com/xBpHA4gOcX
— Escojar (@Escojar) March 8, 2017
Chapecoense added a second through Luiz Antonio, a player on loan from Flamengo, in the 69th minute.
Chapecoense doing the unthinkable right now, would have never guessed this result. pic.twitter.com/UipmULy9OW
— Brazil Edition Vids (@BE_Videos) March 8, 2017
Zulia pulled a goal back in the 78th minute, but Chapecoense held on for the three points, cuing massive celebrations from the players and coaching staff.
Emotivo momento al final del partido @ChapecoenseReal muchos sentimientos encontrados.
Merecida victoria.
pic.twitter.com/ogb8u0WHkp— Julio Cesar Cerrada (@Cesar9Maldonado) March 8, 2017
Chapecoense’s next match in the Copa Libertadores is on March 16 against Argentine club Lanus, the 2016 Argentina Primera Division champion. That match will take place at the Arena Conda in Chapeco, Brazil.
The18 Recommends For You
