Argentinian Racing won its first Copa Sudamericana title by beating Brazilian Cruzeiro 3-1

ASUNCION – While Gaston Martirena and Adrian Martinez scored in the first half, Argentinian Racing won its first Copa Sudamericana championship by beating Brazilian Cruzeiro 3-1 in the final on Saturday.

Martirena opened the scoring in the 15th minute and Martinez scored five minutes later to give La Academia their first international title since 1988, when they won the now-defunct Supercopa Sudamericana.

“Maravilla” Martinez scored 10 goals in 13 matches and finished as the league’s top scorer.

“We suffered until the last minute, but it was a blessing to be able to win the cup after all these years,” Martinez said. “It’s a historical event, it’s been a long time where we haven’t lifted the international cup, we had a bad year in the league, but we managed to give this satisfaction to the fans.”

Roger Martinez secured the victory with a goal in the 90th minute.

Kaio Jorge scored for Cruzeiro in the 52nd.

Avellaneda-based Racing team took the lead when Uruguayan right-back Martirena shot what appeared to be a cross from the right, but the ball went over Cruzeiro goalkeeper Cassio and into the far corner of the goal. open.

Martinez doubled the difference with a shot from five meters.

The match was played at the Estadio General Pablo Rojas in Asuncion, Paraguay, where most of the 45,000 fans supported Racing.

The Copa Sudamericana is the second most prestigious club competition in South America after the Copa Libertadores and its first edition was held in 2002.

Racing became the first Argentinian team to win the competition since 2020, when Defensa y Justicia beat Lanus. Ecuadorian teams won the last two competitions.

Brazilian teams Atletico Mineiro and Botafogo will meet next weekend. Copa Libertadores final In Buenos Aires, Argentina.

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