Rain fell over the Centenario as Atlético Mineiro absorbed a late Montevideo City Torque surge and carried their continental campaign on to Barranquilla. A 2-0 defeat in Uruguay was not enough to erase the Brazilian side’s three-goal first-leg advantage, sending Eduardo Domínguez’s team through 3-2 on aggregate to the Copa Sudamericana final.
Mineiro will meet Boca Juniors on 21 November, with the Brazilian club seeking its first Sudamericana crown. It is a swift return to the final after their 2025 loss to Lanús, when a goalless match ended with the Argentine side winning on penalties.
Quick facts
- Montevideo City Torque 2-0 Atlético Mineiro at the Centenario, Montevideo.
- Atlético Mineiro progressed 3-2 on aggregate after their first-leg lead.
- Kevin Silva scored in the 89th minute and Gary Kagelmacher added a header in the 93rd.
- Alan Franco was sent off for Atlético Mineiro before Torque’s late goals.
- The final against Boca Juniors will be played in Barranquilla on 21 November.
Torque had known from the opening whistle that only an extraordinary night would overturn the tie, and Marcelo Méndez’s side played accordingly. The hosts attacked with purpose, finding the more dangerous moments for much of the evening.
Salomón Rodríguez was close after a mistake by Mineiro goalkeeper Gabriel Delfim, who then produced an outstanding save to deny Franco Pizzichillo. Gonzalo Montes saw a free-kick dealt with by the visiting defence, while Kevin Silva headed narrowly wide.
Atlético’s clearest opportunity fell to former Real Madrid player Reinier Jesus, whose strike hit the crossbar behind Franco Torgnascioli. The visitors had enough of the ball to threaten, but never fully settled the contest in a demanding away setting.
The closing minutes transformed the mood. With Mineiro reduced to 10 after Ecuadorian defender Alan Franco’s dismissal, Juan Ignacio Quintana supplied Kevin Silva to turn in from close range in the 89th minute.
Torque immediately sensed an improbable rescue. In the third minute of added time, Kagelmacher rose to power in a fine header past Delfim for 2-0, leaving the Centenario briefly believing in one final opening.
There was no third goal. Mineiro celebrated qualification at the final whistle, while Torque departed with considerable credit after pushing one of Brazil’s major clubs to the edge of elimination.
Boca arrive in Barranquilla with a history in this competition, having won it in 2004 under Jorge Benítez and again in 2005 under Alfio Basile. This year’s decider will be the eighth Sudamericana final between Argentine and Brazilian clubs; Racing won the 2024 edition and Lanús followed in 2025.
