Rio de Janeiro’s Maracanã was ready for a Vasco celebration, but Boca Juniors turned the night into an Argentine advance, winning 3-1 to overturn their first-leg defeat and reach the Copa Sudamericana final in Barranquilla.
Boca reverse the tie in Rio
Vasco had travelled to Buenos Aires for the opening match and returned with a 1-0 advantage, yet Boca dismantled that margin under the lights in a packed Maracanã. The visitors struck twice before the interval, with Di Lollo and Miguel Merentiel putting Boca in command of the semi-final.
- First leg: Vasco won 1-0 at home.
- Second leg at the Maracanã: Vasco 1-3 Boca Juniors.
- Boca scorers: Di Lollo, Merentiel and Paredes.
- Vasco scorer: Puma Rodríguez.
Puma Rodríguez gave Vasco a route back into the contest 20 minutes into the second half, reducing the deficit and briefly reviving the home crowd. Boca, however, settled the tie in the 42nd minute when Paredes capitalised on an error by goalkeeper Léo Jardim to complete the 3-1 result.
A final waiting in Barranquilla
The win sends Boca to the Sudamericana final on 21 November in Barranquilla, Colombia. Their opponent will come from the other semi-final between Atlético-MG and Montevideo City Torque.
For Vasco, the elimination ends a chance to contest the competition’s final for the first time. The club’s meetings with Boca on Brazilian soil also carry a longer history, with their previous encounter in the country having been played at the old Mané Garrincha stadium.
Boca chase an unprecedented third crown
This will be Boca Juniors’ third Sudamericana final, taking them level with Atlético Nacional, Lanús and LDU as the clubs with three appearances in the tournament’s deciding match. Boca won both of their previous finals and can become the first three-time champion of the competition if they lift the trophy in Colombia.
- Boca Juniors: three Sudamericana finals, with two previous titles.
- Atlético Nacional: three finals.
- Lanús: three finals.
- LDU: three finals.
Among Brazilian sides, Athletico-PR and São Paulo have each reached two Sudamericana finals, the highest total for clubs from the country. Vasco remain outside that group after Boca’s decisive night in Rio.
