Despite losing 3-1 on their visit to Peñarol, Botafogo made good on the 5-0 win in the first leg to confirm their first qualification to the final of the Copa Libertadores on Wednesday.
Although Peñarol’s options seemed minimal, the excitement grew with a great goal from Jaime Báez in the 31st minute. But the expulsion of goalkeeper Washington Aguerre for attacking an opponent after the end of the first half left the tie practically over.
The 6-3 aggregate victory in the semifinals placed Botafogo in the Libertadores title match, where they will face Atlético Mineiro, who left River Plate behind with a 3-0 lead in the series.
The final will be on Saturday, November 30 at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires.
Brazil secured its sixth consecutive title after those obtained by Flamengo in 2019 and 2022, Palmeiras in 2020 and 2021, and Fluminense last year. In addition, it will be the fourth final between Brazilian teams in the last five editions.
Atlético Mineiro and Botafogo will also fight for the last CONMEBOL ticket to the Club World Cup, which will be held next year in the United States.
Botafogo’s path to the final began in the rounds prior to the Libertadores, where they beat Aurora and Bragantino. Already in the group stage, they recovered from losses against Junior and Liga de Quito in their first two games to advance as second place.
In the crossroads, “Fogao” should always have finished as a visitor, but knew how to beat Palmeiras and Sao Paulo before defeating Peñarol.
For the rematch at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Peñarol arrived with few options after the defeat they suffered last week in Rio de Janeiro.
The Botafogo coach, Artur Jorge, reserved the starters Alexander Barboza, Gregore, Luiz Henrique and Igor Jesús, who arrived prepared and if they saw a warning they would miss the final.
“Manya” excited their fans at half an hour with a great shot by Jaime Báez from about 25 meters that slipped into the corner of the goal defended by John Victor.
After dominating the first period, Peñarol suffered a decisive setback when their goalkeeper Aguerre was sent off at halftime for stomping on John Victor as the players were heading to the locker room.
For the second half, Peñarol coach, Diego Aguirre, had to do without midfielder Damián García to bring on goalkeeper Guillermo de Amores.
At 66, Báez surprised again with a powerful shot from the crescent of the area to widen the difference.
Botafogo also finished with 10 players after Mateo Ponte was sent off for a double warning in the 69th minute.
At 88, Thiago Almada finished a counterattack and scored the only goal for “Fogao”.
In the next play, Facundo Batista scored the third for the locals and signed the final result.
VIOLENCE IN THE PREVIOUS
The bus carrying the Botafogo delegation was stoned upon arrival at the stadium. Likewise, other vehicles with Brazilian fans were also hit with stones on the way to the venue.
After other violent events in the first leg in Rio de Janeiro, the Uruguayan Ministry of the Interior requested that the match be played without visiting fans to avoid security problems, but Conmebol did not agree and it was decided to move the stadium headquarters Champion of the Century to the Centennial.
CRUZEIRO ADVANCES TO THE SOUTH AMERICAN FINAL
With a goal from striker Kaio Jorge at the end of the first half, Cruzeiro beat Lanús 1-0 and, with a 2-1 aggregate score, earned its ticket to the final of the Copa Sudamericana.
The Brazilian team will play for the first time in the decisive duel of the Sudamericana, which will take place on November 23 in Asunción. His best performances in the tournament had been in 2004 and 2005, when he reached the round of 16.
Coach Fernando Diniz obtained his first victory in seven games with Cruzeiro, which he has coached for a month, and will seek his second consecutive South American title, after winning the Copa Libertadores with Fluminense in 2023.
The other finalist of the Sudamericana will be known on Thursday after the confrontation between Racing and Corinthians, who have just tied 2-2 in the first leg.
