Juan Román Riquelme visited the Boca Juniors locker room at the Maracanã to congratulate players and coaching staff individually following a 3–1 victory over Vasco da Gama that secured the club’s place in the Copa Sudamericana final, TyC Sports reported.
The October 21 semifinal second leg in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, saw Boca overturn a deficit to advance 3–2 on aggregate. The club president greeted each member of Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s squad after the final whistle, while also speaking with midfielder Leandro Paredes following mandatory doping controls triggered by his decisive late goal.
Locker Room Recognition After the Maracanã Victory
Riquelme made his way down to the visiting dressing room at the Maracanã once the players completed their post-match routines. TyC Sports reported that the club president offered personal congratulations to every player and member of the technical staff for overcoming Vasco da Gama on foreign soil.
During the locker room visit, Riquelme spoke with Paredes, who returned from anti-doping procedures after scoring the late goal that sealed the series. Diario Río Negro noted that Paredes entered the match as a substitute in the 56th minute, replacing Rodrigo Battaglia, just 11 days after sustaining a right hamstring tear.
“I had played twice at the Maracanã and won twice. This was the third, so I feel at home.”
The victory set up a continental final against Atlético Mineiro, scheduled for November 21 at the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez in Barranquilla, Colombia. Infobae reported that the Colombian venue has undergone extensive modernization to accommodate over 65,000 spectators for the championship match.
Pre-Match Walks and Encounters in Rio de Janeiro
Ahead of the semifinal fixture, Riquelme was spotted walking along the beaches of Barra de Tijuca in Rio de Janeiro in the company of other club officials. TyC Sports reported that this outing occurred shortly before local supporters set off fireworks outside the team hotel where Boca was staying.
During his nighttime stroll, the Boca icon crossed paths with supporters of Estudiantes de La Plata who had traveled to Brazil for their own semifinal fixture against Flamengo at the same stadium. Riquelme paused to pose for photographs with the visiting Argentine fans before returning to official club duties.
The atmosphere inside the Maracanã on matchday matched the tension of the fixture.
Turning Points on the Pitch in Rio de Janeiro
Boca struck early when Lautaro Di Lollo headed home from a corner kick delivered by Lautaro Blanco in the third minute, evening the aggregate score immediately. Vasco da Gama respondió con presión, aunque Miguel Merentiel puso en ventaja a los visitantes con un remate tras un pase de Sebastián Villa.
Vasco da Gama leveled the aggregate score in the second half through José Luis Rodríguez, creating a tense period for Arruabarrena’s side. With the match heading toward a tense finish, Paredes unleashed a right-footed curling shot from outside the penalty area that beat goalkeeper Léo Jardim in the 89th minute, securing the 3–1 scoreline on the night and a 3–2 aggregate triumph.
The physical toll of the semifinal victory left the medical staff monitoring several players. Blanco acusó por primera vez síntomas evidentes de cansancio y dolencias físicas tras una seguidilla sin descanso, mientras que Villa saltó al campo condicionado por una molestia previa en uno de sus tobillos, y Alan Velasco sumó sus primeros minutos de competencia en el Maracaná.
Domestic Focus Ahead of Upcoming Clashes
With the continental final secured, Boca turns its attention back to domestic competition in the Torneo Clausura and the annual aggregate table. TyC Sports reported that Arruabarrena plans to field his regular starters for Sunday’s league fixture against Independiente in Avellaneda, as the squad returned from Brazil without major new injuries.
Boca currently leads the general standings and depends entirely on its own results to claim the domestic title with three matches remaining in the schedule. The team faces a demanding stretch of fixtures encompassing multiple competitions ahead of the November 21 final in Colombia.
