Author: Serg Atrakhov, Vishwajit Sawant
PALMEIRAS (Bra) – Atlético-MG (Bra) – 0:0
In a tense clash at Allianz Parque, Palmeiras and Atlético MG drew 0-0 and secured Palmeiras’ place in the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores, having won the first leg 1-0.
Palmeiras had 18 shots (7 on target), but Everson was reliable to prevent Gustavo Gomez and Dudu from scoring. Atlético-MG struggled to find their rhythm in attack, but failed to score. The visitors created the most dangerous moment in the 76th minute. Paulinho entered the area, but shot narrowly wide of the left post. It should be noted that in the 38th minute, the visitors’ defender Igor Rabello was forced to leave the field due to injury, leaving Atlético-MG with an emotional void. By the way, with this draw, the team earned 5 million 150 thousand dollars (for participation in the group stage – 3 million, for five wins in the group – 900 thousand, for reaching the round of 16 – 1.25 million).
Palmeiras have already earned 7 million 450 thousand dollars at the moment (for participation in the group stage – 3 million, for five wins in the group – 1.5 million, for reaching the round of 16 – 1.25 million, for reaching the quarter-finals – 1.7 million). If the Brazilians manage to beat Colombia’s Deportivo Pereira in the quarter-finals, they will receive a further US$2.3 million for reaching the semi-finals.
By eliminating Atlético MG from the tournament, Palmeiras broke a record.
For the third season in a row, he eliminated this club from the Copa Libertadores.
- 2021 1/2 – Palmeiras win thanks to an away goal – 0:0, 1:1;
- 2022 1/4 – 2:2, 0:0 and victory on penalties 6-5;
- 2023 1/8 – 1:0, 0:0;
Nobody in the history of this tournament (since 1960) has managed to do that.
And another record. Palmeiras have reached the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores for the SIXTH consecutive season. Only Boca Juniors managed to do that (from 2000 to 2005).
BOCA JUNIORS (Arg) – Nacional (Uru) – 2:2 (penalty 4-2)
Edinson Cavani made his debut for Boca Juniors, playing 71 minutes at a packed La Bombonera against Nacional URU. The Uruguayan could have scored in the 62nd minute, but he missed the target from close range.
While the first match was a 0-0 draw, this time there were plenty of goals. In the 12th minute, Merentiel headed home his team-mate’s cross. Almost immediately (16 minutes), Trezza leveled the score, also with a header from the edge of the box – 1:1. In the 47th minute, Advinkula put Boca ahead again. In the 73rd minute, Guillermo Fernandez could have determined the winner, but he hit the crossbar of Nacional’s goal. In the next attack, Ichazo saved Barco’s shot, but Ignacio Ramirez was first to the rebound: 2-2.
The hero of the post-match penalty shootout was Sergio Romero. The former Manchester United goalkeeper saved the first and third shots – from Ignacio Ramirez and Daniel Bocanegra.
With the score at 3-1, Guillermo Fernandez could have taken Boca into the quarter-finals, but he shot higher. Ghigliotti made it 3-2, but Valentin Barco’s subsequent shot took the Argentinians through to the next round. There, the winner of the Atl double is waiting for him. Nacional (Col) – Racing Club (Arg).
Ind. del Valle (Ecu) – PEREIRA (Col) – 1:1
In a high-level match on Wednesday (9), Deportivo Pereira secured their place in the Copa Libertadores by drawing 1-1 with Independiente del Valle in the second leg of the round of 16. The match, held at the Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa in Quito, was marked by an intense battle. Hoyos scored for Independiente del Valle, opening the scoring early on (6 mins) after a well-taken corner kick.
However, Larry Angulo’s equalizer for Deportivo Pereira in the 50th minute turned the tide. His angled finish from a counter-attack leveled the score, sealing the path to the next round due to the 1-0 advantage in the first leg.
In the 83rd minute, Hébert Antonio Moreno Gomez committed a handball in his own area, but Michael Hoyos shot wide from the penalty spot. It was a great chance for the Ecuadorians to take the match to penalties… so it’s their fault. Deportivo Pereira will face Palmeiras in the quarter-finals.