23 October: Argentina’s Estudiantes de La Plata eliminated Flamengo 3–2 in a penalty shootout after a goalless draw, becoming the first non-Brazilian team to reach the Copa Libertadores final since 2023.
The result means there will be no third consecutive Brazilian final in South America’s top club competition.
Estudiantes upset the reigning champions in the two-leg semi-final, holding out for another 0-0 draw after the first leg ended goalless, and ended up eliminating the Rio-based club on penalties.
Former West Ham United player Lucas Paqueta, ex-Chelsea player Jorginho and Bruno Henrique all failed to convert their shots, leaving a packed Maracanã stunned.
On a tense night, the visitors had the better chances in the first half, but Flamengo took control of the game after Baltasar Rodríguez was sent off for a second booking in the 50th minute. However, the home side struggled, as they had done in the first leg, to create chances.
The coach of Estudiantes, Alexander Cacique Medina, has compared his team’s victory to the Maracanazo. He said: “Our team grew as the Libertadores went on, and we outplayed everyone else. Getting to the final was well deserved.”
They will play Palmeiras in the final on November 29 at the Centenario Stadium in Uruguay. Palmeiras eliminated Fluminense in the other semi-final after a penalty shoot-out.
In 1968, Estudiantes won the first of four Copa Libertadores titles against Palmeiras, defeating the Brazilians 2-0 in the final. They can become the first non-Brazilian club to win the competition since River Plate in 2018.
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