Cruzeiro advanced to the Copa Libertadores Femenina final in its first participation in the history of the club, defeating Paraguay’s Olimpia 1-0 at Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado in Quito, Ecuador. Marília scored the decisive goal five minutes into the second half, securing a title match against fellow Brazilian side Corinthians on October 31, 2026.
Marília Breaks Deadlock in Quito Semifinal
The breakthrough in the October 28 semifinal arrived immediately after halftime. In the fifth minute of the second half, Byanca Brasil struck a free kick from the intermediate distance that crashed directly against the crossbar. Marília reacted quickest to the rebound, bundling the ball over the line to put the Brazilian side ahead.
Olimpia faced further difficulty in the 28th minute when Pamela Villalba received her second yellow card and subsequent red card from referee Anahí Fernández of Uruguay after stopping Gisseli during a counterattack. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Paraguayan team pressed for an equalizer into stoppage time.
In the 49th minute, goalkeeper Camila Rodrigues preserved the victory with a crucial goal-line clearance. Olimpia’s Casco met a corner kick at the far post and headed firmly toward goal, but Rodrigues blocked the effort right on the line to seal the clean sheet.
All-Brazilian Title Clash Set for Saturday
The result sets up an all-Brazilian championship match against Corinthians at the Casa Blanca stadium. This marks the first time in three years that two Brazilian clubs will contest the Libertadores Femenina final, echoing the 2023 decision where Corinthians defeated Palmeiras in Colombia.
Cruzeiro reaches the decisive fixture following an unblemished run through the continental competition. The club won all three of its group-stage matches before eliminating Libertad 3-0 in the quarterfinals with goals from Vanessinha, Leticia Alves, and Byanca Brasil. The two finalists previously met in the group stage, where Cruzeiro secured a 3-0 victory.
Olimpia advanced to the semifinals following a dramatic late victory over Deportivo Cali, secured by a stoppage-time goal from Milagros Ortiz. The Paraguayan club will now face Santa Fe in the third-place playoff on October 31, preceding the main championship fixture.
Match Details and Official Roster Data
The semifinal encounter was officiated by a refereeing crew led by Anahí Fernández, with assistant referees Daiana Fernández and Adela Sánchez, and VAR official Nadia Fuques, all representing Uruguay. The fixture saw multiple cautions issued by the officiating crew.
Yellow cards were distributed to Ana Flávia, Vanessinha, Leticia Alves, and Vitória Calhau for Cruzeiro, alongside Luján Ortiz, Pion, Pamela Villalba, and Garay for Olimpia. Villalba’s dismissal remains the only red card recorded in the fixture.
The match date of Saturday, October 31, 2026, at the Casa Blanca venue in Quito was confirmed, while the exact kickoff time for the final remained unconfirmed as of the conclusion of the semifinals.
Worth a look
