In a remarkable achievement, Brazilian club Botafogo has reached the final of the prestigious Copa Libertadores for the first time in their history. The Rio de Janeiro-based side secured their spot in the championship match despite suffering a 3-1 defeat to Uruguay’s Peñarol in the second leg of their semifinal tie on Wednesday night.
Botafogo had done the heavy lifting in the first leg, scoring a resounding 5-0 victory that all but sealed their passage to the final. This commanding lead allowed them to rest several key starters for the return match in Montevideo, including national team strikers Luiz Henrique and Igor Jesus.
Peñarol’s Valiant Effort Falls Short
The hosts, Peñarol, put up a spirited fight in front of their home fans. Striker Jaime Báez netted a brace, scoring impressive goals from long range in the 31st minute and from the edge of the box in the 66th minute. However, the Uruguayan side’s chances of a comeback were dealt a blow when they were reduced to ten men in unusual circumstances during the halftime break.
Peñarol goalkeeper Washington Aguerre was shown a straight red card for intentionally stepping on the foot of his Botafogo counterpart, John. The man disadvantage made an already daunting task even more difficult for the home team.
Late Drama Adds to the Spectacle
The match took another twist in the 69th minute when Botafogo’s Mateo Ponte was sent off just seconds after receiving his first yellow card. This evened up the numbers on the pitch, but it was too little, too late for Peñarol.
World Cup champion Thiago Almada, a second-half substitute for Botafogo, got his name on the scoresheet with a close-range finish in the 88th minute. Peñarol’s Facundo Batista responded almost immediately with a goal of his own, but it was merely a consolation for the hosts as they bowed out of the competition.
All-Brazilian Final Awaits
Botafogo’s 6-3 aggregate victory sets up a mouth-watering all-Brazilian final against Atletico Mineiro. Atletico booked their spot in the decider with a 3-0 aggregate win over Argentina’s River Plate, drawing 0-0 in the second leg in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.
The final, slated for November 30 at the iconic Monumental de Nunez Stadium in Buenos Aires, promises to be a thrilling encounter. Brazilian teams have dominated the Copa Libertadores in recent years, winning the last five editions of the tournament.
Broader Implications for South American Football
Botafogo’s advancement to the final also has ramifications for the 2025 Club World Cup, eliminating Paraguay’s Olimpia from contention. Olimpia would have qualified for the 32-team tournament in the United States had River Plate won the Copa Libertadores title. River Plate has already secured their spot based on their consistent results in continental competitions over the past four seasons.
In other results on Wednesday, Brazil’s Cruzeiro progressed to the final of the Copa Sudamericana, edging out Argentina’s Lanus 1-0 on the night and 2-1 on aggregate. They await the winner of the other semifinal between Brazil’s Corinthians and Argentina’s Racing Club, with the second leg to be played in Buenos Aires on Thursday following a 2-2 draw in the first meeting.
As the South American club football season reaches its climax, all eyes will be on the Brazilian clubs as they aim to continue their stranglehold on the continent’s two premier tournaments. For Botafogo, a maiden Copa Libertadores title would cap off a historic campaign and cement their place among Brazil’s footballing elite.
