Boca Juniors Knock Vasco da Gama Out of 2026 Copa Sul-Americana at Maracanã

In a dramatic semifinal clash of the 2026 Copa Sul-Americana held on October 20 at the Maracanã stadium, Boca Juniors defeated Vasco da Gama 3-1 to reach the final. Despite entering the second leg with a 1-0 advantage from winning the first match at Boca's Bombonera stadium, Vasco was unable to hold off the Argentine giants in front of a packed crowd of 66,000.

Boca Juniors took an early lead just four minutes in, when Lautaro Di Lollo scored from a corner kick. The pressure intensified as Miguel Merentiel doubled the advantage with a powerful long-range shot in the 34th minute, leaving Vasco trailing 2-0 by halftime. Vasco managed to rally in the second half, with José Rodríguez scoring at the 66th minute to bring hope for a comeback.

However, a crucial moment came late in the match when Boca’s Leandro Paredes fired a long-range shot in the 88th minute. Vasco’s goalkeeper, Léo Jardim, committed a costly error attempting to save it, sealing the 3-1 victory for Boca Juniors and eliminating Vasco from the tournament. This defeat echoes Vasco’s previous disappointment in the 2025 Copa do Brasil final.

Elsewhere in the tournament, Atlético-MG secured a strong position by winning their semifinal first leg 3-0 over Montevideo City Torque. Reinier scored twice before Thiago Borbas added a third in the second half, putting Atlético-MG on track to meet Boca Juniors in the final.

The match demonstrated Boca Juniors' resilience and tactical execution to overcome Vasco’s initial advantage and secure their place in the Sul-Americana final, leaving Vasco to reflect on what might have been in front of their home fans.