Pablo ‘Vita’ Sánchez and Miguel Ángel Russo
Photo: EFE
Palestino from Chile defeated Millonarios 3-1 on Thursday in a duel played in Coquimbo, for the third date of Group E of the Copa Libertadores 2024.
Palestino’s first two goals were scored by Felipe Chamorro (19 and 43) from point-blank range from the opposing goal. The third goal was from Brayan Véjar (75) in a personal offensive and Millonarios’ discount was achieved by Leonardo Castro (33) with an accurate header.
The Chileans achieved a victory that allows them to take off in the standings, placing third in the group and leaving the Colombians at the bottom.
With this result, Bolívar de La Paz remains the undisputed leader of Group E with nine points, thanks to the fact that on Wednesday it defeated Flamengo 2-1 in La Paz. The Rio team is second in the table with four points, one more than Palestino. Millonarios is fourth, with one point.
Palestino will host Flamengo on May 7, again in Coquimbo, while Millonarios will host in Bogotá de Bolívar a day later.
The tribute to Miguel Ángel Russo
Beyond the result, there was a detail that caught the attention of social networks: the clothing of ‘El Vita’ Sánchez, who jumped onto the field wearing a beret and a gray jacket.
On this Saturday afternoon, Palestino shared a video in which the Chilean club’s coach confesses his “small tribute” to a “great guy” like Miguel Ángel Russo, who is in charge of Rosario Central and was champion with Millonarios in 2017 .
That year, the Argentine announced that prostate cancer was discovered and that hours before the final matches against Santa Fe he underwent chemotherapy. After beating the classic rival, Millonarios also beat Atlético Nacional in the 2018 Superliga.
“Actually it is not usual for me to wear casual clothes, I generally wear sports clothes, but it was a small tribute to a great guy, to a great coach who is Miguel Ángel Russo, who was my coach and today is the current coach of Rosario Central and champion, whom people love very much and it is also true that we played with Millonarios with whom he was champion, so it was a small tribute to Miguel,” said Sánchez.
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The ambassador has three games left in the group stage: two in Bogotá and another in Rio de Janeiro. Millonarios cannot give away more points and needs the three victories to add nine units and reach 10 points.
Those wins would also have to be by a good number of goals, since at this moment they have -3 and this will be key to breaking the group tie. Even to seek a place in the Copa Sudamericana, if they finish third in Group E.
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In addition to these three victories, they have to wait for the Brazilians and the Bolivians to drop points in their next matches.
Millonarios is on the ropes in the Copa Libertadores, since a defeat or a draw against Bolívar, on Wednesday, May 8, in El Campín, would practically leave it out of the continental tournament.
