Enner Valencia Missed Penalty as Boca Beat Vélez

Boca survived a tense night, and Ecuador felt every kick. Enner Valencia missed a penalty, yet the Xeneize still reached the quarterfinals. After a scoreless battle, Boca defeated Vélez 4-3 in the shootout.

However, Valencia’s failure became Ecuador’s sharpest talking point. Álvaro Montero then rescued Boca with two saves at Córdoba’s Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium.

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Boca Juniors vs Vélez ends with shootout relief

Boca carried more attacking intent, but their finishing repeatedly failed them. Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s midfield controlled useful zones without turning possession into goals.

Tomás Belmonte wasted the clearest first-half opening after a flowing combination. Lautaro Blanco supplied the final pass, but Belmonte sent his finish wide.

Tomás Belmonte | vs. Vélez. pic.twitter.com/0ZAssbqvWz
— Boca NO GOL (@bocanogol) September 3, 2026

Earlier, Leandro Paredes had released Belmonte with another accurate forward ball. However, the midfielder could not control the decisive touch inside the area.

Santiago Ascacíbar also threatened during Boca’s stronger passages. Meanwhile, Vélez protected central spaces and forced attacks toward crowded wide channels.

Marchiori remained alert whenever Boca found a shooting lane. Moreover, his command gave Vélez confidence while the match stayed level.

Neither side found a legal breakthrough across 90 minutes. Therefore, the round of-16 contest moved directly toward its harshest possible examination. Consequently, Boca controlled the rhythm but never secured comfort.

Valencia entered but found little space

Valencia replaced Miguel Merentiel after 61 minutes. Boca needed sharper movement against a disciplined Vélez block.

However, the Ecuadorian received limited service. His clearest opening produced a header above Marchiori’s crossbar.

Valencia kept attacking the area, yet Boca rarely delivered early Crosses. Still, Arruabarrena trusted his experience when selecting Boca’s penalty takers.

Marchiori denied Valencia from twelve yards

Valencia approached his kick with Boca needing another clean conversion. Marchiori read the attempt correctly and stopped the Ecuador captain’s shot.

🚨 MONTERO SAVES IT AND SENDS BOCA THROUGH. 🧤🇨🇴

The Colombian goalkeeper made the difference in the shootout against Vélez.

MONTERO WAS THE HERO WITH TWO PENALTY SAVES. 🧤🔥 pic.twitter.com/ySzgOSjqPn https://t.co/9acSjGbbdx
— Goal Crest (@GoalCrestX) September 3, 2026

As a result, Enner Valencia missed penalty headlines quickly spread across Ecuadorian football circles.Lautaro Blanco, Kevin Zenón, Leonel Flores, and Carlos Palacios converted for the Xeneize. Meanwhile, Valencia became Boca’s only unsuccessful taker.

Vélez scored through Joaquín García, Simón Escobar, and Rodrigo Aliendro. However, their remaining attempts met a goalkeeper enjoying a defining night.

Enner Valencia missed penalty, Montero delivered

Álvaro Montero transformed Boca’s growing anxiety into qualification. The Colombian goalkeeper stopped efforts from Elías Gómez and Thiago Silvero.

Énner Valencia y su penal fallado con Boca Juniors en la definición contra Vélez.pic.twitter.com/cwn2yvh0BK
— MrOFF (@MrOFFSIDER) September 3, 2026

His two saves settled the series at 4-3. Therefore, Boca advanced despite failing to score during regulation time. Marchiori had given Vélez genuine hope by denying Valencia. However, Montero answered with greater impact across the complete shootout.

Montero metió a Boca Juniors a cuartos de final de la Copa Argentina, atajó los penales de Elías Gómez y Thiago Silvero para imponerse a Vélez Sarfield!! pic.twitter.com/YTViejNEik
— Global Futbol Hub (@globalfutbolhmx) September 3, 2026

Official match records confirm the sequence and Boca’s passage. In addition, they show Valencia as the third Xeneize taker.

Meanwhile, Marchiori’s save ensured the tension lasted until Boca’s final successful kick. One missed penalty should not define a striker’s full performance. Still, Valencia knows Boca measures forwards through goals, decisive actions, and resilience.

That pressure feels familiar to Ecuador’s record international scorer. Moreover, his experience offers a platform for recovery rather than excuses.

Boca now faces Racing in the quarterfinals. As a result, Arruabarrena gained another opportunity to improve a side lacking consistent finishing.

Boca succeeded because Montero won the duel

Shootouts often punish hesitation, but Montero projected conviction. His size, patience, and reading disrupted Vélez during the decisive exchanges.

Boca’s four successful takers also handled the pressure. Consequently, Valencia’s miss became survivable rather than fatal.

Álvaro Montero vence incrédulos y fue la figura de @BocaJrsOficial al atajar 2 penaltis a Elías Gómez (1º) y Thiago Silvero (5º) en la definición tras el 0-0 contra Vélez. Boca avanzó a cuartos de final en la Copa Argentina. pic.twitter.com/mwF5iE8xQp
— Cesar Augusto Londoño (@cesaralo) September 3, 2026

Paredes supplied tempo and progressive passing from midfield. Ascacíbar supported him with aggressive recoveries and forward runs.

However, Boca still lacked precision near Marchiori’s goal. Belmonte’s wasted chance best captured that recurring weakness.

Arruabarrena can value the qualification without ignoring the warning. Moreover, Racing will likely punish similar wastefulness during the next round.

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