Bruno shines as Flamengos stay balanced
DOHA: Before coming here for the FIFA Club World Cup, Flamengo won their second Copa Libertadores after a 38-year wait.
The Brazilian side also added another league title to their collection and will be hoping to keep the good times rolling after they fought back a goal down to beat Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal 3-1 in the semifinal at the Khalifa International Stadium on Tuesday night.
Salem Al Dawsari had put the Asian champions in the lead in the 18th minute following a combined effort by Sebastian Giovinnco and Andre Carrillo, who received a marching order in the 83rd minute.
But the Copa Libertadores champions returned back with a bang in the second half.
Giorgian de Arrascaeta equalized the 48th minute after he was put through on the top of the box by the hard-working Bruno Henrique.
The 28-year-old forward also got onto the scoresheet when he headed home a cross from Rafinha to restore the lead in the 78th minute.
Four minutes later Hilal centre-back Mohammed Al Burayk scored an own-goal after he deflected a Bruno shot into his own goal.
However, it wasn’t a great start by the Brazilian club, who perhaps took time to settle down after arriving in the Qatari capital only two days ago.
Salem’s early goal gave the Asian champions the kind of start they were looking at.
Coached by Razvan Lucescu, who had a stint here in Doha in the Qatar Stars League, Hilal even outpaced the Latin American club with some right mixture of arrogance and aggression.
Flamengo also struggled due to the heavy pitch conditions following the evening shower.
However, all that changed after the interval when they came back with a renewed confidence.
In quick time, they regained composure with the likes of Bruno and Gabriel ‘Gabigol’ Barbosa led a flurry of attacks that had put the Hilal back-line in a spot of bother.
The equalizer was inevitable, and in the third minute De Arrascaeta shot home to bring Flamengo back into the game.
Gabigol, who has netted eight goals in last ten matches, shot into the goalkeeper just at the start of the second half. Though he didn’t score, his threatening runs and a great deal of understanding with Bruno proved quite a handful for the AFC Champions League winners.
The Saudi side, particularly their defence, weren’t able to cope up with the pressure.
Right-back Al Burayk had an impressive performance in the first half, and managed to keep Bruno and Gabogol in check.
But as with the wont with most Asian teams, Hilal failed to maintain consistency and form that they showed in the first half.
