"Only those who take the penalty miss." The phrase is well-known and has been repeated many times throughout Brazil. This Wednesday at Maracanã Stadium, it was no different. Vagner Love, who had a great performance against Universidad Católica, had good chances to score with the ball in play, but, capriciously, it wouldn't go in. Then, late in the second half, with the match practically decided for Flamengo, another opportunity arose: a penalty.

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The number nine asked for the ball, gently adjusted it, but it, again, refused to go in and went wide. The striker, of course, regretted the missed chance, but he wasn't discouraged. Applauded by the fans after being replaced by Petkovic and consoled by his teammates after the penalty, Love said he shot it in the middle after seeing the goalkeeper fall to his left, but unfortunately, he ended up hitting the ball too low, forcing it to go up.

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"It's part of it, whoever hits it loses. I was there, I was unlucky, I saw the goalkeeper fall, I hit the ball a little low, but I hit it too low and the ball went up," he said.

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Adriano, who normally takes penalties for the red-and-black team, explained the decision to leave the ball to his teammate.

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"I had already scored my goal, and Vagner was a player who gave a lot of himself on the field, he ran a lot, especially with Willians being sent off in the first half, so he took the shot. Unfortunately, the ball didn't go in, but that's what happens," he said.

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Coach Andrade also downplayed the incident. According to him, both Vagner Love and Adriano are considered the team's official kickers, and whoever is in a better position should take the kick.

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"They're the penalty takers. It's not Adriano or Vagner Love. They both take the penalty. They decide who's better in the game and take it. Only the penalty taker misses a penalty, but that happens in football," the coach added.