For thousands of Racing fans on Saturday, an odyssey that was hours, weeks, even months in the making came to a blissful conclusion in a matter of seconds.

A final, desperate Cruzeiro attack broke down. One, two headers to send the ball from the edge of the Academia area into the path of Roger Martínez. A steady, almost languid jog towards Cassio’s net followed by a laser-guided finish into the corner. Joy. Ecstasy. Relief. And tears. So many tears.

As a sweltering afternoon in Asunción turned to early evening, the Academia faithful struggled to digest just what had happened. They had travelled to Paraguay en masse, 40,000 according to some, up to 50,000, claimed others. A blue-and-white tide that engulfed the landlocked nation, arriving by plane, coach, car and on foot across Argentina’s northern border crossings.

From Avellaneda, through Entre Ríos, Corrientes, Misiones, Formosa and Paraguay itself the roads were commandeered by the travelling hordes, enduring

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