Athletico 100 years: Luisinho Netto, the Executioner of Coxas

In the graph table with the function “goals x important games” in the list of goalscorers of the red-and-black centenary, Luisinho Netto is among the first. The right-back, in the baptismal font Luís Idorildo Netto da CunhaI liked to score goals in big games.

In the Libertadores in which he played, in 2000 and 2002, he scored six goals and is therefore one of the club’s top scorers in the competition, tied with legendary strikers such as Victor RoqueMarco Ruben and lime. Luisinho, in fact, had the honor of scoring the goal that opened the score to 3-0 against Alianza Lima in Peru, on the first stamp in our passport.

The gaucho from Cachoeira do Sul arrived at Furacão in 1997 to become champion of Paraná in 1998, 2000 and 2001, in addition to the 1999 Selective. An excellent free kick taker, he sometimes played on the left flank, which was not a problem, on the contrary. Luisinho’s shot was so oblique and disguised that it was not uncommon for his “kicks” with his switched foot to turn into goals, in balls so poisonous that even without touching anyone they killed the goalkeepers.

From 1998 onwards, he became the greatest executioner of thighs of his generation. The beautiful record of 7 goals in 11 matches makes Luisinho Netto one of the classic’s historic scorers.

Among these goals, my favorite is the third goal in the second game of the 1998 finals. At 9 in the 2nd half, he was awarded a penalty. In theory, it is the most favorable condition for the finisher, free and with full vision of the goal. But the rival goalkeeper countered and the ball returned to Luisinho, now in unfavorable circumstances: high, marked and on the bad leg. Because he added a left-handed cross volley to deposit the ball in the corner.

Thus, in his own way, the full-back confirmed a general feeling among the Atlético people since the time the Marrecos brothers were harassing the Coxas: if it doesn’t suffer, it’s not Athletico.