Athletico 100 years: Lima, the false slow

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Aparecido Francisco de Lima entered the history of Athletico in the “unlikely hero” category. After all, in 100 years of fierce rivalry, few players came from Furacão’s biggest rival, or vice versa, and managed to become idols at the new club. The center forward with long, rhythmic strides is one of those very rare cases.

In 2005, lime He was hired under the total distrust of the red and black fans. The staleness, however, dissipated with each participation in the extravagant campaign that took the club to the Libertadores final that year. Lima scored six goals, all decisive in unforgettable games.

In the group stage, with the winning goal in the last minute against América de Cali. In the round of 16, with a goal and assist in the first game and the saving goal in the return game against Cerro Porteño. In the quarterfinals, against favorite Santos, he scored the winning goal by 3-2.

He also saved two goals in the second leg of the semi-final, against Chivas, at the mythical Jalisco Stadium, in Guadalajara, Mexico. The second, which guaranteed the advantage achieved at home, was an amazing goal in a run in which he deceived the Mexican defense with the false impression of slowness, in a sequence of disconcerting dribbles until the inescapable shot against goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera’s goal.

Those who were in the second game of the final in Morumbi, against São Paulo, did not understand why Lima did not take the penalty that could have changed the course of the history of Western civilization, given that he had been responsible for the last penalty that ended up sealing the match. Furacão title against local rivals that year.

At Atletiba in the Brazilian Championship, he scored the lightning goal and provoked the opposing fans with a fun celebration. Lima would return to the club in 2009; however, without the same shine as the unforgettable previous passage.