Palmeiras pulls off a miracle to meet Flamengo in the Copa Libertadores final

(AFP) As promised by coach Abel Ferreira, Palmeiras had a "magical night" on Thursday and qualified for the Copa Libertadores final by crushing Liga de Quito 4-0, coming back from a 3-0 defeat a week earlier in Ecuador.

The miracle at the Allianz Parque, in São Paulo, ensures that teams from Brazil will maintain the hegemony they have established in recent years in the tournament, with Palmeiras and Flamengo set to star in the final on Nov. 29 in Lima.

Raphael Veiga, converting a penalty caused by Allan, completed the rout in the 82nd minute.

Paraguayan Ramón Sosa in the 20th minute, Bruno Fuchs in the 45th+5th minute and Veiga himself in the 68th minute had set the Paulista team on its way to victory.

Brazilian clubs have won the Libertadores in the last six editions: Flamengo in 2019 and 2022, Palmeiras in 2020 and 2021, Fluminense in 2023, and Botafogo in 2024.

Anxiety, but a lot of excitement

The starting eleven of Portuguese Ferreira, who had asked for faith on the eve of the match, represented a declaration of intent.

The coach sacrificed a defender to populate a midfield that had Andreas Pereira as the axis and Allan and Sosa open on the wings, with the usual attacking duo: the Argentine José Manuel López and Vitor Roque.

And Palmeiras pushed from the first instant.

There was, however, anxiety. Although the Verdão constantly prowled around Liga de Quito goalkeeper Alexander Domínguez, they did not put him in much trouble.

The first great scoring chance, in fact, was generated by the visitors after 20 minutes of play, with a header by Lisandro Alzugaray that goalkeeper Carlos Miguel blocked.

The scared Palmeiras responded immediately. Sosa headed in a cross by Allan from the left flank to open the scoring.

The Paulista attack, then, became an avalanche. The problem was that both Flaco Lopez and Vitor Roque, very active, seemed to rush into the area. Again, anxiety.

The numbers were clear: at the end of the first 45 minutes, Palmeiras had taken 18 shots, but only two had reached Domínguez's goal.

The desired 2-0 lead came in stoppage time, when Fuchs shot from the penalty spot, taking advantage of a loose ball in the area after Sosa's delivery, headed by Victor Roque.

Veiga, decisive

The illusion was soaring there was only one goal left to force penalties.

Palmeiras continued to corner Liga de Quito after the break and, when the Ecuadorians seemed to improve, the entrance of Veiga from the bench was the final turning point.

With just seconds on the pitch, he unleashed a shot that Dominguez had to stretch to clear.

It was the prelude to the third goal of the night.

Veiga started the play with a long ball to Vitor Roque, who held up in the box and waited for the midfielder, who shot into the net to make it 3-0.

With Liga de Quito crumbling, a great individual maneuver by Allan ended in a penalty awarded to Carlos Gruezo.

Vitor Roque gave the spot kick to Veiga, who ended up sanctifying Palmeiras' night.

The winner of the final, scheduled for next month in Lima, will become the first Brazilian team to win the Libertadores Cup four times.