In a thrilling match, Uruguayan powerhouse Peñarol secured a spot in the prestigious Copa Libertadores semifinals for the first time in over a decade. The team’s 0-0 draw against Brazilian giants Flamengo on Thursday sealed their fate, following a 1-0 victory in the first leg courtesy of Javier Cabrera’s crucial goal.
Peñarol will now face off against Botafogo, who made history by defeating Sao Paulo in a penalty shootout to reach the last four for the first time since 1973. This marks a remarkable turnaround for Peñarol, who had struggled in the competition for years, failing to advance beyond the group stage in their previous nine appearances.
Despite being the underdogs, Peñarol’s determination and skill paid off against Flamengo, who had invested heavily in their team, splurging over $50 million in the offseason to assemble a roster capable of capturing their fourth Copa Libertadores title.
In the other semifinal matchup, Argentine heavyweights River Plate will clash with Brazilian outfit Atletico Mineiro. River Plate, led by coach Marcelo Gallardo, who returned to the team after a brief stint in Saudi Arabia, will be looking to add to their impressive Copa Libertadores tally, having won the title in 2015 and 2018.
The highly anticipated Copa Libertadores final is set to take place on November 30 in Buenos Aires, with River Plate enjoying home-field advantage. Atletico Mineiro booked their spot in the semifinals with a convincing 2-0 win over defending champions Fluminense.
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