David Luiz defends Flamengo teammate after costly error in Copa Libertadores final

Andreas Pereira error led to extra-time winner scored by Palmeiras' Deyverson

Felipe Melo of Palmeiras lifts the Copa Libertadores after defeating Flamengo 2-1 at Centenario Stadium on November 27, 2021 in Montevideo, Uruguay. Getty Images

Palmeiras' Breno Henrique celebrates winning the Copa Libertadores with the trophy. Reuters

Palmeiras' Danilo and teammates celebrate. Reuters

Fans of Palmeiras react after winning the Copa Libertadore. AFP

Fans of Palmeiras react after winning the Copa Libertadores. AFP

Fans of Flamengo react after losing the Copa Libertadores final. AFP

Palmeiras' Breno Henrique and teammates celebrate. Reuters

Deyverson of Palmeiras and a member of the coaching staff celebrate after the final. Getty Images

Palmeiras' Felipe Melo celebrates winning the Copa Libertadores with teammates. Reuters

Palmeiras' Luiz Adriano celebrates with teammates. Reuters

Palmeiras' Luiz Adriano, centre, celebrates winning the Copa Libertadores with teammates. Reuters

Palmeiras' Gabriel Menino celebrates. Reuters

Palmeiras' Gustavo Scarpa. Reuters

Palmeiras' Victor Luis kisses the Copa Libertadores trophy. Reuters

President of Palmeiras Maurício Galiotte. Reuters

Players of Palmeiras celebrate their 2-1 extra-time win over Flamengo at Centenario Stadium on November 27, 2021 in Montevideo, Uruguay. Getty Images

President of Palmeiras Maurício Galiotte celebrates after the final. Reuters

Felipe Melo of Palmeiras lifts the Champions Trophy. Getty Images

Palmeiras' Raphael Veiga celebrates after scoring against Flamengo. AFP

Felipe Melo of Palmeiras celebrates after defeating Flamengo 2-1in in the final. Getty Images

Weverton uses his mobile phone after the final. Getty Images

Patrick de Paula of Palmeiras. Getty Images

Palmeiras' Patrick de Paula and Danilo celebrate winning the Copa Libertadores. Getty Images

Palmeiras' Danilo celebrates winning the Copa Libertadores with the trophy. Reuters

Palmeiras' Patrick de Paula and Gustavo Scarpa celebrate in front of fans. Reuters

Fans of Flamengo react after losing the Copa Libertadores final. AFP

Palmeiras fans celebrate winning the Copa Libertadores. Reuters

Gustavo Gomez of Palmeiras celebrates. Getty Images

Palmeiras' Felipe Melo celebrates with his teammate Danilo Barbosa. EPA

David Luiz defended his Flamengo teammate Andreas Pereira on Saturday after the loanee from Manchester United made a decisive mistake in their 2-1 defeat by Palmeiras in the Copa Libertadores final.

Pereira was caught in possession 30 yards from goal by Deyverson, who drove on to score the winning goal five minutes into extra time at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo.

But Luiz, who arrived at Flamengo in September after years spent at Benfica, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal, said the 25-year-old midfielder was not the reason that Flamengo failed to win their second Libertadores - South America's equivalent of the Champions League - in three years.

“That’s football,” Luiz said. “He was having a great game, playing fantastic, and then in one move it all comes crashing down. The only thing I said to him was that no matter how much people will analyse that moment, we didn’t lose the game because of that.”

“Our vision has to be deeper and broader than that analysis, especially with a great player like Andreas. I’m very sad because he is a great friend, a great player and sad because he deserves more, sad because we deserved more.”

Luiz’s explanation was understandable and came after goalkeeper Diego Alves also defended Pereira, saying "Victory is ours [as a team] and defeat is too."

Luiz, though, was not alone in believing Flamengo were unlucky in a game where they spent more time than their opponents going forward.

Flamengo had around two-thirds of possession and the same with attempts on goal but fell behind to a Raphael Veiga strike after five minutes and although they were the better side in the second half and scored through Gabriel Barbosa after 72 minutes, they lost to Deyverson’s opportunist goal early in extra time.

“We need to have the humility to recognise that Palmeiras came with a strategy of playing on the counter attack, to take advantage of our errors, and that is what happened,” said the defender. “They’re not here for the second year in a row for nothing.”

The result means Palmeiras become the first team since Boca Juniors in 2001 to win back-to-back Libertadores titles.

It also means the Sao Paulo club are the seventh and final team confirmed for next year's Fifa Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi.