GUADALAJARA, Mexico – It’s not been the best of times for Freddy Adu in Brazil, but on Thursday he got 25 minutes of playing time and was on the field as Bahia snatched a late winner to defeat Portuguesa 2-1 in the second phase of the Copa Sudamericana.
Adu was sent on for Anderson Talisca, with the score at 1-1, and added impetus to his side as Bahia searched for a winner that eventually came in second-half injury time via a header from Obina.
It was Adu’s first appearance in a month for Bahia and only his sixth since moving to Brazil from Philadelphia Union last March.
The return leg of the tie is next Wednesday in Salvador, with the winner advancing to face either Guaraní (Paraguay) or Atlético Nacional (Colombia).
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
