Palmeiras retain Copa Libertadores with 2-1 win over Flamengo

Palmeiras picked up their second straight Copa Libertadores crown on Saturday evening, emerging 2-1 winners over fellow Brazilians Flamengo.

The 2020 final was actually held back in January following COVID-enforced delays, with Palmeiras needing a winner in the ninth minute of stoppage time to get past Santos, and they nearly left it as late this time around.

Raphael Veiga actually put Palmeiras ahead within just five minutes after finishing off a cross from Mayke, who was played onside by former Arsenal man David Luiz in the build-up to the goal.

It took Flamengo until the 72nd minute to respond, and predictably, it was Gabriel Barbosa who bagged the equaliser. The man known as Gabigol, who got both his side's goals in the 2019 final, slotted home past Weverton to send the game to extra time.

Five minutes into the first 15, a slip from Manchester United loanee Andreas Pereira gifted Deyverson with a fantastic chance, and the Brazilian made no mistake and was left in tears after bagging his first goal of the competition.

Somehow, that wasn't even Deyverson's biggest highlight of the game.

In the final minute of stoppage time, the 30-year-old took the ball to the corner flag to try and waste time, but was eventually deemed to have committed a foul by the referee.

Deyverson was ushered away by the official, who gave the forward a friendly pat on the back to get things back underway, but in an outstanding act of time-wasting, the Palmeiras man flung himself to the floor in apparent agony.

Please, please go find a video. It's outstanding.