After tied 1-1 in regulation time, Boca Juniors defeated Endrick’s Palmeiras (forward signed by Real Madrid) in a torturous penalty shootout, 2-4, at the Allianz Parque in São Paulo to advance to the 2023 Copa Libertadores final against Fluminense.

Edinson Cavani, a striker from Uruguay, gave the Xeneize squad the lead in the 23rd minute, but Joaquín Piquerez’s effort from outside the box forced extra time.

After Marcos Rojo was sent off, Endrick, the jewel tied by Real Madrid, entered the game at halftime, overwhelming Boca, who failed to score more than 0-0 at La Bombonera.

Sergio Romero, the goalkeeper, made several excellent saves to keep the Argentine squad alive and then excelled once more in the penalty shootout, making two more saves.

On November 4 at the Maracaná in Rio de Janeiro, Boca Juniors will compete against Fluminense for their eighth continental championship.

Fluminense, who advanced after rallying from Internacional (1-2) in the closing minutes, will face Boca. Argentine attacker Germán Cano will be the key protagonist after he conceded the first goal and scored the second for the Rio squad.

Boca’s victory also ends a run of three straight years in which Brazilian teams—Palmeiras-Santos in 2020, Palmeiras-Flamengo in 2021, and Flamengo-Athletico Paranaense in 2022—were always the Libertadores finalists.

1. Boca Juniors: Edinson Cavani and Miguel Merentiel (d.55, Bruno Valdez); Ezequiel Fernández, Cristian Medina, Pol Fernández, Barco (m.68, Valentini); Sergio Romero; Luis Advíncula, Nicolás Figal, Marcos Rojo, and Frank Fabra (m.82, Marcelo Saracchi).

Head coach: Almirón Jorge.

Goals: Piquerez 1-1, m.73; Cavani 0-1, m. 23.

0-0 in the penalty shootout; Cavani for Weverton. 0-0: Romero for Veiga. 0-1: Goal, Valdez. Romero, for Gómez, 0–1. 0–2: Goal, Valentini. 1–2: Kevin scores. 1-3: The aim, Figal. Piquerez, goal, 2-3. 2-4: A goal by Pol Fernández.

Referee: Andrés Matonte, a Uruguayan, cautioned Rony, Gómez, Veiga, Fabra, Ezequiel Fernández, Endrick, Medina, and Romero and dismissed Rojo for a double yellow (m.66).

Incidents: São Paulo, Brazil’s Allianz Parque hosted the second leg of the 2023 Copa Libertadores semifinals.