Palmeiras advanced to their 13th Copa Libertadores semifinal after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over LDU Quito, surviving a frantic finish that included a late equalizer and the ejection of head coach Abel Ferreira, according to match reports. The Brazilian club secured the milestone result thanks to goalkeeper Carlos Miguel, who anchored the side through a tense extra period and the decisive spot-kicks.
Palmeiras Survives LDU Quito Surge to Reach 13th Semifinal
The encounter delivered intense drama from kickoff to the final whistle. Palmeiras established control early through goals from Marlon Freitas and Vitor Roque, building what appeared to be a secure advantage. LDU Quito mounted a relentless counter-offensive as regulation time expired, netting a dramatic equalizer after the 90-minute mark to level the aggregate score and force extra time.
The turbulent finish also saw Palmeiras manager Abel Ferreira dismissed by the match officials following a volatile touchline confrontation deep into stoppage time. Stripped of their technical director on the sideline, the Brazilian squad dug deep through 30 minutes of extra time before holding their nerve in the penalty shootout.
Carlos Miguel Shines in Penalty Shootout Drama
Goalkeeper Carlos Miguel emerged as the central figure of the night, turning away crucial attempts in the shootout to seal the advancement. His heroics erased an earlier missed penalty by teammate Lucas Evangelista during regulation play. Following the match, Evangelista publicly thanked his teammate for rescuing the side, stating he apologized to the squad for the missed opportunity and promised a gift to Carlos Miguel for the decisive saves.
With the victory, Palmeiras extends its historic lead at the top of the ranking for Brazilian teams with the most semifinal appearances in South America’s premier club competition, reaching their 13th appearance at this stage of the tournament.
Next Steps in the Copa Libertadores
Having booked their place among the final four teams, Palmeiras turns its attention back to domestic commitments before preparations begin for the upcoming continental semifinal leg. Official tournament organizers will confirm the final match schedule and venue allocations in the coming days.
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