Argentine football giant Boca Juniors will play in the Copa Sudamericana final after beating Brazil’s Vasco da Gama 3-1 in Tuesday’s semifinal at the Maracanã Stadium.
The Xeneize took a 3-2 aggregate win after losing 1-0 at home last week, and will now face the winner of the series between Brazil’s Atletico Mineiro and Uruguay’s Montevideo City Torque.
With no choice but to go for the win, Boca came out swinging and took the lead early. Just four minutes in, defender Lautaro Blanco put in a cross from a corner that centerback Lautaro Di Lollo headed in for the 1-0.
The early goal forced Vasco da Gama to go out and look for an equalizer, thus creating space for Boca’s attack. In the 34th minute, a poor clearance by a Vasco defender allowed winger Sebastián Villa to set up striker Miguel Merentiel for a one-on-one, with the Uruguayan forward making it 2-0, enough to see them through to the final.
It looked like it was done and dusted for the Xeneize, but in the 66th minute, a defensive mishap by Di Lollo gave striker José Luis Rodríguez a clear shot, which he finished to make it 1-2, potentially sending the series to a penalty shootout.
Boca went all in trying for a last-ditch goal but kept coming up short, until team captain Leandro Paredes — who had come on in the 57th minute after being sidelined with an injury — picked up the ball in the middle of the field in the 88th minute.
Completely unmarked, Paredes took a shot at goal and found a weak response from Vasco goalkeeper Léo Jardim, who failed to read the ball’s swerve and couldn’t prevent Boca’s third goal.
The Xeneize held on to the result, earning its third trip to the Copa Sudamericana final.
‘Right at home’
After the match, Paredes said he feels “right at home” at the Maracana after winning for the fourth time in his career at the iconic Brazilian venue.
The Boca captain’s previous wins came with the Argentine national team, first a 2-0 win over Venezuela in 2019, and then twice against Brazil, in the 2021 Copa America final and the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers in 2023.
“It is one of the most important nights of my career,” said Paredes. “Everyone in this group is a hero because they are doing inexplicable work. This team wants to win big.”
Boca will face the winner of the other semifinal between Brazil’s Atletico Mineiro and Uruguay’s Montevideo City Torque.
The Brazilian team took a 3-0 win in the series opener last week at home. They will visit Uruguay’s Centenario Stadium on Wednesday, aiming to book a spot in the final.
The decider is set to be played at the Roberto Meléndez Metropolitan Stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, on Friday, November 20.
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