Palmeiras has secured a place in the Copa Libertadores final for the second year in a row, eliminating Fluminense after a penalty shootout drama. The return leg at the Nubank Parque stadium in São Paulo without Fluminense saw the aggregate score level at 2-2 with a goal scored by Hercules eight minutes before the end of regular time, sending the match straight to a penalty shootout. This came after Fluminense had been trailing 2-1 from the first leg.
In the shootout, the key moment came when Nonato’s fourth penalty for Fluminense was saved by Palmeiras goalkeeper Carlos Miguel, leaving his team 4-3 down. Palmeiras midfielder Marlon Freitas then converted the fifth penalty without error, securing qualification for his team.
Palmeiras, last year’s finalists, will face the winner of the other semi-final between defending champions Flamengo and Argentina’s Estudiantes in the final next month in Montevideo. The first leg between Flamengo and Estudiantes ended 0-0 in Buenos Aires, while the return leg will be played at the Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday.
Source: France 24 Live News