Boca Juniors 1-2 Fluminense (aet): Two sent off in dramatic Copa Libertadores final

Fluminense won the Copa Libertadores for the first time in their history by beating Boca Juniors in Saturday’s dramatic final.

Luis Advincula equalised with a stunning strike from distance to take the game to extra time.

In the added period, substitute John Kennedy powered in the winner before he was sent off after a second booking.

The Brazilian forward, already on a yellow card, raced off to celebrate the historic strike in the crowd and was subsequently dismissed on his return to the pitch.

That left Fluminense needing to hold on with 10 men against six-time champions Boca Juniors, but the Argentines were also then reduced in number when Frank Fabra was dismissed for slapping Nino.

It added up to a feisty end to a game that had been simmering for a while before Fluminense’s extra-time winner.

Extra time delivers the drama

This was in essence a home game for Fluminense as the final took place in their stadium – Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana.

But Boca were backed by a sizeable support themselves with tens of thousands having travelled from Argentina.

The Copa Libertadores final – South America’s equivalent of Europe’s Champions League final – can often be a sparky affair, but on the pitch this one took a while to get going, before it exploded into life in a drama-filled and tense extra time.

Kennedy’s explosive 18-yard finish for his goal was worthy of winning any final, as he powered an unstoppable drive into the back of the net.

His celebrations were ill-fated as the referee showed a second yellow card after he ventured into the crowd, and that gifted what appeared to be the perfect opportunity for Boca to make the most of a numerical advantage.

But as challenges became more robust, a clash between the two sets of players resulted in Fabra also being shown a red card as he struck Nino across the face.

That was a real blow to Boca’s hopes of taking the game to penalties and although they dominated possession, it was Fluminense who went closest to scoring again when Guga’s shot hit the post.

The showpiece match ended with a nerve-jangling last few minutes, but Fluminense held firm and the final whistle was met by huge celebrations on and off the pitch.