- Boca Juniors produced an epic comeback in Rio de Janeiro against Vasco da Gama to book their place in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana Final.
- Built on the solidity of their centre-backs and the quality of their key players, the Xeneize secured a historic victory and will contest the decisive stage of 'La Gran Conquista' for the first time in 21 years.
The Argentine side beat Vasco da Gama 3-1 at the Maracanã, overturning their 1-0 defeat in the first leg, to become the first finalists of the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana. Rodolfo Arruabarrena's side will now await their opponents, who will emerge from the tie between Atlético Mineiro and Montevideo City Torque, for the Final at the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez in Barranquilla on Saturday 21 November.
The tie was played at a high tempo from the opening minutes. Boca thrived in that environment and levelled the aggregate score after just three minutes. Lautaro Blanco, a standout performer in the first leg and influential once again in the return, delivered a pinpoint cross from the left that found Lautaro Di Lollo rising above the defence. The centre-back got the better of Santiago Sosa, caught Léo Jardim off balance and opened the scoring for the Xeneize.
Arruabarrena's men capitalised on their momentum and almost doubled their lead through Leonel Flores. After a fine pass from Miguel Merentiel, however, he was unable to finish accurately as the Brazilian goalkeeper came off his line to narrow the angle.
The Cruzmaltino responded and created two clear chances to draw level. David, brought on in place of Andrés Gómez, who had been sent off in the first leg, cut in from the flank and tried to curl a long-range effort into the corner, but his shot sailed narrowly over the bar. Captain Thiago Mendes then wasted a free header, sending it just wide of the right-hand post guarded by Colombian goalkeeper Álvaro Montero.
Boca, by contrast, made their chances count and turned the tie around. In the 33rd minute of the first half, Sebastián Villa set up Merentiel after capitalising on a lapse in the Rio side's defence. The Uruguayan made no mistake, putting Boca 2-0 ahead and sparking celebrations among the Xeneize supporters in Rio de Janeiro.
Vasco da Gama's Portuguese manager, Pedro Emanuel, made two changes at half-time, bringing on Marino Hinestroza and Brenner Marlos for Adson and David respectively in an attempt to inject fresh energy into the home side's attack.
But that greater attacking presence did not translate into clear-cut chances. The Cruzmaltino had to wait until the 59th minute for their first opportunity of the second half, when Bruno Duarte's long-range effort went wide.esviado desde lejos de Bruno Duarte.
Vasco's goal came from the bench. Uruguayan José Luis Rodríguez, known as 'Pumita', collected a rebound just outside the penalty area and, in the 66th minute, fired a powerful, angled shot into the corner to score the Brazilian side's first goal.
Boca felt the impact and surrendered the control they had enjoyed in the first half. Brenner came close to equalising after a series of rebounds inside the penalty area. Soon afterwards, Alan Lescano tried his luck from distance, but his effort also flew over the bar.
Boca's trademark magic emerged in the closing stages, when a penalty shoot-out seemed inevitable. Leandro Paredes, the Xeneize captain who had come on in the second half, showcased one of his greatest strengths: his powerful shooting. Boca pushed forward into the opposition half, the midfielder found himself unmarked and unleashed a fierce strike that Léo Jardim could not hold. The score was 3-1, sealing the Argentine side's place in the Final.
The match in numbers
- Boca Juniors have reached their third CONMEBOL Sudamericana final (2004, 2005 and 2026). They are joint-record holders for the most finals, alongside Atlético Nacional, Lanús and LDU Quito. They have also reached more CONMEBOL Libertadores finals than any other club (12).
- Boca Juniors have overturned a knockout tie after playing the second leg in Brazil for the second time in CONMEBOL competitions. The previous occasion was in the 2003 CONMEBOL Libertadores round of 16 against Paysandu, when they lost 1-0 at home before winning 4-2 away. They went on to lift the trophy that year.
- Vasco played their first-ever CONMEBOL Sudamericana match at the Maracanã. Boca, meanwhile, made their sixth appearance at the stadium in CONMEBOL competitions (W2, L4). It was their first Sudamericana match there and their first win in a knockout tie at the ground.
- At 32 years and 113 days old, Leandro Paredes is the second-oldest midfielder to score for Boca Juniors in a Libertadores or Sudamericana semi-final. The oldest is Diego Cagna, who scored against Internacional in the 2004 Sudamericana at the age of 34 years and 219 days.
- Leandro Paredes misplaced just one pass against Vasco (15 completed from 16 attempts). From the start of the second half until he came on in the 56:04 minute, Boca had 25% possession. From his introduction until the final whistle, the Xeneize recorded 39% possession.
- Miguel Merentiel has scored seven goals in 37 appearances for Boca Juniors in CONMEBOL competitions, including four in this edition of the Sudamericana. It is the best return by a Boca player in a single tournament since Edinson Cavani scored five goals in the 2024 Sudamericana.
- Sebastián Villa has registered more assists than any other player in CONMEBOL competitions in 2026, with six — three for Independiente Rivadavia in the Libertadores and three for Boca in the Sudamericana. He also leads the way for goal involvements in those competitions this year, with 10, level with Gabriel Barbosa.
- Since joining Boca in 2024, Lautaro Blanco has provided more assists than any other player at the club in CONMEBOL competitions, with seven. No other player has more than three. Five of Blanco's assists have led to headed goals, including Lautaro Di Lollo's in this match.
- Boca Juniors' Lautaro Di Lollo has scored twice in 19 appearances in CONMEBOL competitions. Both goals have come in 2026 and have been headers; this was his first in a knockout match.
- At 22 years and 224 days old, Lautaro Di Lollo is the third-youngest defender to score for Boca Juniors in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana, behind Juan Forlín in 2008 (20 years and 257 days) and Aaron Anselmino in 2024 (18 years and 345 days).
- Lautaro Di Lollo's goal, timed at 3 minutes and 18 seconds, was Boca Juniors' earliest from a set-piece situation in CONMEBOL competitions since Carlos Tévez scored a penalty against Cerro Porteño in the 2016 Libertadores, after 3 minutes and 7 seconds.
- At 35 years and 100 days old, Rodrigo Battaglia is the oldest midfielder to feature for Boca Juniors in a Libertadores or Sudamericana semi-final in the 21st century.
- José 'Pumita' Rodríguez has been involved in four of Vasco's last seven goals in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana, scoring once and providing three assists. Since the round of 16 in this edition, he has recorded more goal involvements than any other player for the Brazilian side, with four.
