|
RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 25-- The year 2017 was replete with emotion in South American football as titles were decided in dramatic circumstances, tragedies were overcome and World Cup fairytales came true. Xinhua looks at some of the highs and lows of a year to remember. BEST COACH Former Corinthians coach Tite, whose given name is Adenor Leonardo Bacchi, took charge of Brazil in mid-2016 when the team was in disarray. The five-time World Cup champions had just been eliminated from the Copa America without reaching the knockout stage, prolonging a slump that began with a humiliating 7-1 World Cup semifinal defeat at home to Germany two years earlier. Under Tite's stewardship, Brazil went on to win nine consecutive World Cup qualifiers, reclaiming the world No.1 ranking for the first time in seven years and becoming the first team (other than hosts Russia) to qualify for football's showpiece tournament next June and July. Brazilians are again excited about their national team and, while the heartache of 2017 will never disappear, there is hope that Russia 2018 might at least bring redemption. BEST GOAL Few goals could match the emotion of the one scored by Henry Rojas that secured Millonarios their 15th Colombian first division title earlier this month. Millonarios and their Bogota rivals Santa Fe were tied 2-2 on aggregate in the 85th minute of the final's second leg when Rojas sent a thunderous first-time shot into the top corner from around 30 yards. The strike prompted an almost equally impressive 25-second goal shout from Caracol TV commentator Javier Fernandez. | 
