Fernando Romero Nuñez 
Boca Juniors is a Copa Libertadores finalist once again. The Argentine football giant beat its Brazilian counterpart Palmeiras in a penalty shootout after tying 1-1 in the second leg of the semifinals. Goalkeeper Sergio Romero became the hero of the night, saving two penalties following a brilliant performance during the game. The final will be played on November 4, at the mythical Maracanã Stadium against Fluminense from Brazil.
The Xeneize can take pride in being the fair winner of the series. The team coached by Jorge Almirón should’ve won the first leg at home, after dominating large portions of that game. Boca also managed to do a similar job in São Paulo.
Playing at a disadvantage at the Allianz Parque stadium due to its artificial grass and heated atmosphere, Boca settled for a more counter-attacking style. They were thus able to still hurt the Brazilian team without facing much trouble themselves.
It was precisely one of those counters that allowed Almiron’s team to get ahead on the scoreboard. Just 21 minutes into the first half, Uruguayan striker Miguel Merentiel dribbled past Palmeiras captain Gustavo Gómez, got into the box, and delivered a clean pass so Edinson Cavani could slide forward and tap it in for the 1-0.
Although Boca kept pushing, the second half would be a different affair. The substitution of Endrick gave Palmeiras more attacking flair. The 17-year-old wonderkid was signed by Real Madrid for 72 million euros in December 2022 and is set to move there once he turns 18 in July 2024.
With Palmeiras in full swing, Boca suffered a major setback when captain Marcos Rojo was sent off due to a double yellow card after a harsh tackle on striker Kevin de Maceda. This allowed the Brazilian team to get back into the game and tie it up when left back Joaquín Piquerez hit a long-range effort, which Romero was unable to get a clear view of with most players in the box after a corner.
Both teams had chances to take the lead, but the tie persisted after 180 minutes in two games, and the series had to be decided in a penalty shootout. This would be Boca’s third time deciding a series from the penalty spot, after requiring the same in their earlier duels against Nacional from Uruguay and Racing Club.
Things didn’t start well for Boca, with Palmeiras’ Weverton saving Cavani’s shot. However, Romero quickly remedied the situation, showing why he’s famed for his prowess in penalties. He saved shots from Raphael Veiga and Gustavo Gómez, which would be enough for Boca to win the shootout 4-2.
“Together with the [2014 World Cup] semifinal against the Netherlands, this is the happiest day of my career. At 36, I allow myself to enjoy these things. I used to struggle a bit more when I was younger,” Romero said after the game.
Romero has saved 12 of the 23 penalties he’s faced since he’s the Boca goalkeeper, which puts him ahead of Xeneize legends like Roberto Abbondanzieri or Oscar Córdoba.
Boca Juniors has reached its 12th Copa Libertadores final, extending its lead as the club that has reached the decider stage the most times. Uruguayan giant Peñarol comes in second with 10, and title record-holder Independiente is third with seven.
The Copa Libertadores final will be played on Saturday, November 4, 2023 at the Maracanã Stadium, with the kick-off time still to be determined. History bodes well for Boca Juniors in that regard, as no Argentine team has lost a Copa Libertadores final played immediately after Argentina has won the World Cup. The Xeneize won the continental tournament in 1978 following the country’s first World Cup win, and River Plate came out victorious in 1986 (the 2022 Libertadores final was held before that year’s World Cup).
