Palmeiras reach the Libertadores final after shootout drama

Palmeiras reached the Libertadores final after Carlos Miguel turned a difficult night into a celebration. The goalkeeper stopped Nonato’s penalty as the hosts advanced 5-3 in the shootout against Fluminense on Wednesday, October 21.

However, the visitors had won the Nubank Parque meeting 1-0, levelling the semifinal 2-2 on aggregate. Abel Ferreira’s team now await Flamengo or Estudiantes for the November 28 decider in Montevideo.

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Palmeiras reach the Libertadores final through shootout composure

The first leg’s 2-1 victory at the Maracanã gave Palmeiras an advantage to protect. A draw in São Paulo would have secured qualification, but Fluminense kept the tie alive until the closing stages.

However, the home side could not turn that favourable position into a comfortable evening. Their opponents eventually found the goal needed to cancel the first leg deficit.

That distinction matters when assessing Ferreira’s team Palmeiras won the tie, while Fluminense won the return match. The aggregate score left neither side ahead after two demanding legs. Ferreira introduced Ramón Sosa for Flaco López in the 62nd minute, then Maurício for Andreas Pereira in the 78th.

Hércules strikes late to bring the tie level

Fluminense’s midfielder scored in the 82nd minute, giving the visitors the breakthrough their pursuit required. Wesley Natã combined with Hulk down the right before finding the midfielder, who finished with the inside of his foot.

¡¡QUIERE SER EL HÉROE DE FLU!! Tremendo remate de Hércules tras una gran serie de pases para que Fluminense ponga el 2-2 global vs. Palmeiras. ¡Qué final se viene! 📺 Mirá TODA la CONMEBOL #Libertadores por ESPN en el Plan Premium de #DisneyPlus https://t.co/YYF5mfQ8PQ
— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) October 22, 2026

Until then, Palmeiras still held the advantage earned in Rio de Janeiro. However, conceding so late removed the protection of that first-leg victory and increased the pressure inside the stadium.

The visiting side now had a route to qualification through penalties. Palmeiras, meanwhile, needed to recover their composure after seeing the lead disappear. Neither team added another goal before the whistle, leaving the semifinal at 2-2 overall.

Carlos Miguel answers Nonato’s fourth penalty

Both teams converted their first three attempts, keeping the contest level at 3-3. Joaquín Piquerez then scored Palmeiras’s fourth, placing the next responsibility on Nonato.

¡LA TOALLA DECÍA LO CORRECTO! Carlos Miguel lo estudió y le atajó el penal a Nonato. 📺 Mirá TODA la CONMEBOL #Libertadores por ESPN en el Plan Premium de #DisneyPlus https://t.co/yxmeKO1lUm
— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) October 22, 2026

However, Carlos Miguel stopped the midfielder’s effort and gave his teammates the chance to finish the job. One successful kick would now send Ferreira’s side through.

¡¡MARLON FREITAS CONTRA UN PALO Y PALMEIRAS FINALISTA DE LA #LIBERTADORES!! 📺 Mirá TODA la CONMEBOL #Libertadores por ESPN en el Plan Premium de #DisneyPlus https://t.co/ow8guhxcC6
— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) October 22, 2026

The save proved decisive because Palmeiras had avoided mistakes with their own attempts. A goalkeeper’s intervention can create an opening, but the takers still need to protect it. Carlos Miguel supplied that opening at precisely the stage when Fluminense had no room for an unanswered miss.

Five successful kicks complete Palmeiras’s qualification

Palmeiras reached the Libertadores final with a perfect five conversions from five shootout attempts. Maurício, Gustavo Gómez and Ramón Sosa scored before Piquerez’s fourth kick maintained the pressure.

Meanwhile, Thiago Silva, Hércules and Guilherme Arana had kept the visitors in contention. Nonato’s unsuccessful attempt then left them facing immediate elimination.

Marlon Freitas converted Palmeiras’s fifth penalty to complete the 5-3 shootout victory. Fluminense did not need to take another kick because the result was already beyond reach.

CONMEBOL’s final announcement confirms November 28 in Montevideo. The Centenario will host the championship match, with the remaining semifinal determining Palmeiras’s opponent.

Familiar penalty pressure carries an Ecuadorian connection

Ecuadorian supporters had already seen Carlos Miguel influence Palmeiras’s route through this tournament. In the quarterfinals, he saved twice against Liga de Quito after the teams finished level on aggregate.

CONMEBOL’s account of that tie records Palmeiras advancing 4-3 in the shootout. Therefore, Wednesday’s intervention continued an established contribution during the knockout rounds.

However, the five successful takers deserve credit alongside their goalkeeper. Their accuracy allowed Palmeiras to advance despite failing to score during the return leg.

Fluminense turn frustration towards the league campaign

Guilherme Arana expressed disappointment after a semifinal he believed Fluminense had controlled across both matches. However, that was the full-back’s assessment, and the aggregate outcome offered no reward for his confidence.

His successful penalty could not prevent elimination once Palmeiras completed their sequence. Meanwhile, the Rio club stands fifth in the Brazilian Championship with 51 points and must pursue qualification domestically.

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