2012 Recopa Sul-Americana: Centenário's international title | OneFootball

Gabriel Pierin, from the Memory CenterOn September 26, Santos celebrates the anniversary of winning the 2012 South American Recopa, when it defeated Universidad de Chile in front of a packed Pacaembu. The title added even more value to the 2011 Libertadores triumph and completed the fans’ celebrations in Santos’ Centenary year.

The 2012 South American Recopa was Peixe’s second title in the competition and the first under the format that pitted the champions of the Copa Libertadores against the winners of the Copa Sudamericana. The previous triumph, in 1968, came under a different format: the competition brought together South American world champions, who competed for a place in the Intercontinental Recopa against European teams. Afterwards, Santos also lifted the world trophy, defeating Internazionale of Milan.

The Final

The 2012 Recopa was played over two matches. The first leg took place at the home of the Copa Sudamericana champions, while the return leg was held at the stadium of the Copa Libertadores champions.

In Chile, around 45,000 people packed the National Stadium to cheer on “La U.” Despite the pressure from the home crowd, Santos controlled the action in the first half and created several chances to open the scoring. The best of them came from the penalty spot, but Neymar missed after slipping at the moment of the shot.

In the second half, the match became more balanced. Universidad de Chile began to press, while Santos found space on the counterattack. Neither team, however, managed to find the net. The goalless draw took the decision to São Paulo, where Santos fans were already preparing a big celebration at the Pacaembu.

All the ingredients were there for a great final. The club’s Centenary and the recent Campeonato Paulista title had rallied the fans, who packed the Paulo Machado de Carvalho Stadium.

Managed by Muricy Ramalho, Santos took the field with Rafael, Bruno Peres (Éwerton Páscoa), Bruno Rodrigo, Durval, Léo (Gérson Magrão), Adriano, Arouca, Felipe Anderson, Patito Rodríguez (Miralles), Neymar and André. On the other side was a Universidad de Chile side led by a name that, years later, would become familiar to Santos fans: Jorge Sampaoli.

The match began tensely, with the Chilean team looking dangerous and creating the best chances in the opening minutes. In the 27th minute, however, Santos found the breakthrough. Léo intercepted a long pass in his own half, nutmegged his marker, and played Felipe Anderson down the left flank. After driving forward, the midfielder found Neymar at the edge of the box. The Menino da Vila combined with André and finished into goalkeeper Johnny Herrera’s right corner, scoring a beautiful goal and opening the scoring in the final.

Still in the first half, the attacking trio of Felipe Anderson, Neymar and Patito Rodríguez continued to trouble Universidad de Chile’s defense, but they were unable to turn their chances into more goals.

In the second half, Santos kept up the pressure. In the 15th minute, after a free kick was sent into the box, Bruno Rodrigo rose highest and headed the ball into the net, doubling the black-and-white side’s lead and giving Santos greater peace of mind, as a team used to playing in major finals.

Until the final minutes, the Meninos da Vila remained in control of the match and confirmed Santos’ superiority. The victory gave Santos the ninth official international title in its history, fittingly in its Centenary year.

It was also the sixth title in three years for that generation led by Neymar and Ganso, a team that left its mark on the history of Santos and of Brazilian and world football.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.