"What If I'd Made the Goal?," Says Right-Back Who Almost Prevented Chape's Qualification for the Final

12/26/2016 - 15h56

Marcos Angeleri, 33, turns quiet when asked how he would handle a potential confrontation with Chapacoense in the next Copa Libertadores.

"I don't know. What I experienced with Chapecoense has marked me for life. I don't know how I would react. Surely, I'd pay homage to team," the San Lorenzo (ARG) right-back told Folha.

He admits that he still spends a great deal of time thinking about the November 23rd game against the Santa Catarina club.

For the South American Cup semifinal and with his team required to secure a victory in order to qualify for the next round, the score was 0 to 0 when the ball met Angeleri inside the small area.

Little accustomed to making goals, his kick was weak. The goalkeeper Danilo came in on the defense. Thirty seconds later, the game was over. Chapecoense qualified for the final of the continental tournament against Atlético Nacional, from Colombia.

Six days after the tie, the aircraft carrying Chapecoense to Medellín fell. What torments Angeleri is the possibility that he could have changed destiny. Not only for his San Lorenzo, but also with the flight tragedy.

He knows he is most likely being unfair with himself when he thinks about that. But he cannot help it.

"When I heard about the accident for the first time, that was the first thing that came to mind. A lost opportunity. In the locker room, I was irritated because I had the opportunity to carry our team to the final and bring happiness to the fanbase. But, what came next extends far beyond football. I cannot avoid thinking, 'what if I had made that goal?'".

"I know every professional football athlete must have thought: that could have been me."

Despite the elimination, he remembers that the fan celebration in the Chapecó arena "was nice" after the tie with San Lorenzo. In retrospect, he would have liked to have avoided it for a greater good.

Translated by SUGHEY RAMIREZ

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