With the title won this Thursday night (2), after a victory over Bahia, in Salvador, Atlético-MG reached its second cup in the Brazilian Championship in history. The first was 50 years ago, in 1971, in the inaugural edition of the national competition under this name.
On that occasion, the 20 clubs participating in the event, divided into two groups of ten, faced each other in a single shift. The top six from each group qualified for the second phase, in which they were placed in three brackets of four teams.
With a shift and return, the best team in each bracket qualified for a triangular final, which decided the Brazilian champion of that year – the only time a national trophy was disputed in this format. In addition to Atlético-MG, Botafogo and São Paulo competed for the title.
Download the poster of the two-time Brazilian champion Atlético-MG
In the first match of the triangular, on December 12, 1971, the Atleticans defeated São Paulo by 1-0, at Mineirão, with a free kick by Oldair 30 minutes into the final stage.
São Paulo recovered from the defeat by thrashing Botafogo by 4-1, at Morumbi, a result that kept the tricolores with chances to win the cup. For that, however, they would have to hope that the Botafoguenses beat the miners, in Maracanã, in the last match of the final triangle.
Despite playing away from home that December 19, Atlético-MG was better than the Cariocas and, with a goal by Dario, Dadá Maravilha, 16 minutes into the second half, beat Botafogo to win the national title.
Dario, the hero of the Athletic achievement and who had been three-time world champion the previous year, with the Brazilian team, finished the Brazilian Championship as top scorer, author of 15 goals.
The achievement would immortalize not only the center forward and his companions in the history of Atlético-MG, but also coach Telê Santana, who was still at the beginning of his career. Former right winger with a distinguished spell at Fluminense, he had started his career as a coach at the Rio de Janeiro club in 1969.
Telê arrived at Atlético-MG in 1970 and, in his first season, led the team to the state title. In the following season, he led the team to the greatest national glory of the club until this Thursday’s conquest, in Salvador.
.
I have worked in the news industry for over 10 years. I have a vast amount of experience in covering health news. I am also an author at News Bulletin 247. I am highly experienced and knowledgeable in this field. I am a hard worker and always deliver quality work. I am a reliable source of information and always provide accurate information.
