Brazil’s Botafogo advances to its 1st Copa Libertadores final despite 3-1 loss at Penarol
Brazil’s Botafogo advances to its 1st Copa Libertadores final despite 3-1 loss at Penarol
Adryelson of Brazil’s Botafogo, right, and Leonardo Sequeira of Uruguay’s Penarol jump for a header during a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match at Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Santiago Mazzarovich)
A fan of Uruguay’s Penarol cheers and lights a flare while waiting for the start of a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match against Brazil’s Botafogo at Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Santiago Mazzarovich)
Referee Piero Maza, of Chile, shows a red card to Mateo Ponte of Brazil’s Botafogo during a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match against Uruguay’s Penarol at Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
Jaime Baez of Uruguay’s Penarol celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal against Brazil’s Botafogo during a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match at Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Santiago Mazzarovich)
Kaio Jorge of Brazil’s Cruzeiro, left, celebrates scoring his side’s opening goal against Argentina’s Lanus during a Copa Sudamericana semifinal second leg soccer match at La Fortaleza Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
Walter Bou of Argentina’s Lanus, left, reacts after missing a chance to score against Brazil’s Cruzeiro during a Copa Sudamericana semifinal second leg soccer match at La Fortaleza Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
Players of Brazil’s Botafogo celebrate at the end of a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match against Uruguay’s Penarol at Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. Botafogo won 6-3 on aggregate. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
Coach Artur Jorge of Brazil’s Botafogo celebrates with his players at the end of a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match against Uruguay’s Penarol at Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. Botafogo won 6-3 on aggregate. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
Rodrigo Perez of Uruguay’s Penarol, left, and Tiquinho Soares of Brazil’s Botafogo battle for the ball during a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match at Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
Jaime Baez of Uruguay’s Penarol, right, dribbles past Mateo Ponte of Brazil’s Botafogo during a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match at Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
Lucas Hernandez of Uruguay’s Penarol, left, and Mateo Ponte of Brazil’s Botafogo battle for the ball during a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match at Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
Adryelson of Brazil’s Botafogo, right, and Leonardo Sequeira of Uruguay’s Penarol jump for a header during a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match at Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Santiago Mazzarovich)
Adryelson of Brazil’s Botafogo, right, and Leonardo Sequeira of Uruguay’s Penarol jump for a header during a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match at Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Santiago Mazzarovich)
A fan of Uruguay’s Penarol cheers and lights a flare while waiting for the start of a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match against Brazil’s Botafogo at Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Santiago Mazzarovich)
A fan of Uruguay’s Penarol cheers and lights a flare while waiting for the start of a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match against Brazil’s Botafogo at Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Santiago Mazzarovich)
Referee Piero Maza, of Chile, shows a red card to Mateo Ponte of Brazil’s Botafogo during a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match against Uruguay’s Penarol at Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
Referee Piero Maza, of Chile, shows a red card to Mateo Ponte of Brazil’s Botafogo during a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match against Uruguay’s Penarol at Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
Jaime Baez of Uruguay’s Penarol celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal against Brazil’s Botafogo during a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match at Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Santiago Mazzarovich)
Jaime Baez of Uruguay’s Penarol celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal against Brazil’s Botafogo during a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match at Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Santiago Mazzarovich)
Kaio Jorge of Brazil’s Cruzeiro, left, celebrates scoring his side’s opening goal against Argentina’s Lanus during a Copa Sudamericana semifinal second leg soccer match at La Fortaleza Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
Kaio Jorge of Brazil’s Cruzeiro, left, celebrates scoring his side’s opening goal against Argentina’s Lanus during a Copa Sudamericana semifinal second leg soccer match at La Fortaleza Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
Walter Bou of Argentina’s Lanus, left, reacts after missing a chance to score against Brazil’s Cruzeiro during a Copa Sudamericana semifinal second leg soccer match at La Fortaleza Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
Walter Bou of Argentina’s Lanus, left, reacts after missing a chance to score against Brazil’s Cruzeiro during a Copa Sudamericana semifinal second leg soccer match at La Fortaleza Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
Players of Brazil’s Botafogo celebrate at the end of a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match against Uruguay’s Penarol at Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. Botafogo won 6-3 on aggregate. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
Players of Brazil’s Botafogo celebrate at the end of a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match against Uruguay’s Penarol at Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. Botafogo won 6-3 on aggregate. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
Coach Artur Jorge of Brazil’s Botafogo celebrates with his players at the end of a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match against Uruguay’s Penarol at Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. Botafogo won 6-3 on aggregate. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
Coach Artur Jorge of Brazil’s Botafogo celebrates with his players at the end of a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match against Uruguay’s Penarol at Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. Botafogo won 6-3 on aggregate. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
Rodrigo Perez of Uruguay’s Penarol, left, and Tiquinho Soares of Brazil’s Botafogo battle for the ball during a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match at Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
Rodrigo Perez of Uruguay’s Penarol, left, and Tiquinho Soares of Brazil’s Botafogo battle for the ball during a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match at Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
Jaime Baez of Uruguay’s Penarol, right, dribbles past Mateo Ponte of Brazil’s Botafogo during a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match at Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
Jaime Baez of Uruguay’s Penarol, right, dribbles past Mateo Ponte of Brazil’s Botafogo during a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match at Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
Lucas Hernandez of Uruguay’s Penarol, left, and Mateo Ponte of Brazil’s Botafogo battle for the ball during a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match at Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
Lucas Hernandez of Uruguay’s Penarol, left, and Mateo Ponte of Brazil’s Botafogo battle for the ball during a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match at Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Brazil’s Botafogo advanced to its first Copa Libertadores final on Wednesday despite a 3-1 loss at Uruguay’s Penarol. The Rio de Janeiro side had won the first leg of its semifinal 5-0.
Botafogo’s rival in the Nov. 30 decider in Buenos Aires will be fellow Brazilian side Atletico Mineiro, which reached the final after a 0-0 draw at Argentina’s River Plate on Tuesday and after a 3-0 win in the first leg.
Botafogo rested many of its starters because of the big advantage, including national team strikers Luiz Henrique and Igor Jesus.
Jaime Báez scored Penarol’s first two goals. The first came from long distance in the 31st minute and the second in the 66th from the edge of the box. By then, the hosts were one man down due to an unusual red card.
Goalkeeper Washington Aguerre was sent off during the break after intentionally stepping on the foot of Botafogo goalie John. Botafogo lost a player in the 69th minute when Mateo Ponte received his second yellow only seconds after he got his first.
World Cup champion Thiago Almada was brought in by Botafogo in the second half and scored for the visiting team from close range in the 88th minute. One minute later, also from close range, Penarol’s Facundo Batista netted the third goal for the Uruguayan team.
Brazilian teams have won the tournament for the past five years. The final will be played at the Monumental de Nunez Stadium in Buenos Aires.
Atletico’s win on Tuesday also affected the race to be the last South American qualifier for the 2025 Club World Cup, as it eliminated Olimpia of Paraguay from contention.
Olimpia would have advanced to the 32-team tournament in the United States had River Plate won this Copa Libertadores edition. River Plate already qualified based on its consistent results in the continental competition across four seasons.
FIFA will make the draw for the June 15-July 13 tournament on a date in early December it has not yet confirmed.
Also on Wednesday, Brazil’s Cruzeiro advanced to the Copa Sudamericana final with a 1-0 win at Argentina’s Lanus. Their first leg ended 1-1 last week.
Cruzeiro could face another Brazilian team in the decider of South America’s second most prestigious club tournament.
Corinthians, the club of Dutch striker Memphis Depay, will take on Argentina’s Racing in Buenos Aires on Thursday. Their first leg in Sao Paulo finished 2-2.
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