- Vasco da Gama secured a 1-0 victory over Boca Juniors at ‘La Bombonera’, while Atlético Mineiro defeated Montevideo City Torque 3-0 in Belo Horizonte.
- The return legs on 20 and 21 October will determine the two teams that will compete for ‘The Great Conquest’ in Barranquilla on 21 November.
The first legs of the CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2026 Semi-finals ended with both Brazilian representatives holding the advantage. Vasco secured a victory in Buenos Aires that they had to defend with ten men, while Atlético Mineiro established a three-goal lead over Montevideo City Torque to move closer to another Final.
Boca and Torque will need to overturn their deficits to keep their campaigns alive. The decisive return legs in Rio de Janeiro and Montevideo will determine which two teams travel to Colombia to contest the title at the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez on 21 November.
Boca Juniors 0-1 Vasco da Gama
Vasco took the initiative at ‘La Bombonera’ and broke the deadlock in the 24th minute when Adson headed home a cross from Carlos Andrés Gómez. Pedro Emanuel's side dictated proceedings throughout the first half against a Boca team missing the injured Leandro Paredes. After the break, Gómez's sending-off changed the complexion of the match, and the ‘Xeneize’ posed a greater attacking threat following the introductions of Sebastián Villa and Miguel Merentiel.
Rodolfo Arruabarrena's side pushed for an equaliser, but the woodwork denied them twice, first from a Lautaro Blanco cross and then from a Santiago Ascacíbar shot. Vasco held firm thanks to saves from Léo Jardim and a crucial late intervention by Robert Renan to deny Merentiel. The result marked their first victory over Boca in CONMEBOL competitions and gives them the advantage heading into the return leg on Tuesday, 20 October, at the Maracanã, where the Argentine side will need a win to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Atlético Mineiro 3-0 Montevideo City Torque
Atlético Mineiro made home advantage count at the Arena MRV and took firm control of the match before half-time. After Gabriel Delfim produced a crucial save to deny Salomón Rodríguez's header, Eduardo Domínguez's side opened the scoring in the 37th minute: Tomás Cuello made a driving run down the right, Victor Hugo provided the assist and Reinier applied the finish. Shortly afterwards, Bernard won back possession, exchanged passes with Reinier and doubled the lead with a precise shot into the corner.
Franco Torgnascioli kept Torque in contention with a series of saves after the break, but the ‘Galo’ struck again in the 80th minute when Thiago Borbas got ahead of his marker to meet a Renan Lodi cross and seal the 3-0 victory. The return leg will take place on Wednesday, 21 October, at the Estadio Centenario. The Uruguayan side will look to produce another comeback, having overturned a 2-0 deficit against Cienciano in the Quarter-finals, while Atlético Mineiro will aim to secure their second consecutive Final appearance in the competition.
