Palmeiras played very poorly on Thursday night (23) at the Casa Blanca stadium, in Quito, and were defeated 3-0 by LDU (Ecuador), in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores de América semi-finals.
🇪🇨💪 Epic night of @ldu_oficial! Won the @palmeiras 3-0 in the first game of the CONMEBOL Semi-Final #Libertadores!
🔜 The return will be on the 30th, in São Paulo!#EternalGlory pic.twitter.com/0f8bYLhZDY
— CONMEBOL Libertadores (@LibertadoresBR) October 24, 2025
Now, Verdão will have to fight to achieve at least a three-goal victory, next Thursday (30), starting at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), at Allianz Parque, to seek qualification for the final on penalties. To be able to advance in regulation time, Abel Ferreira’s team will have to triumph by an advantage of four goals or more.
Clearly feeling the effects of the 2,850 meters of the city of Quito, Palmeiras had a first half to forget. The Brazilian team competed little and gave the Ecuadorians plenty of space to open up a three-goal lead before the break.
The score was opened just 15 minutes into the first half. Full-back Quiñonez passed as he wanted past Khellven, one of the weak links in the Palmeiras defense in the match, and crossed to the middle of the area, where Villamíl had time to dominate, adjust and shoot hard to beat goalkeeper Carlos Miguel.
🎉🥳 Vibrate, Villamíl!
🇪🇨 The party @ldu_oficial when opening the scoring on the @palmeiras!#EternalGlory pic.twitter.com/lS9qcDIwGM
— CONMEBOL Libertadores (@LibertadoresBR) October 24, 2025
Portuguese coach Abel Ferreira’s team remained apathetic in the match and, in the 26th minute, saw LDU increase with a goal from a penalty kick by midfielder Alzugaray.
With two down, Palmeiras started to take more risks. However, he could do little in the attacking field. The Ecuador team once again showed more effectiveness in the 46th minute, when Bryan Ramírez made a great play on the right wing and crossed to Villamíl, who, with a lot of freedom inside the area, shot to beat the Verdão goalkeeper once again.
⚽⏱️ End of the first half: @ldu_oficial 3-0 @palmeiras!#EternalGlory pic.twitter.com/Py426TSlgS
— CONMEBOL Libertadores (@LibertadoresBR) October 24, 2025
After the break, coach Abel Ferreira changed many of his pieces. However, the attack remained ineffective, and only created one clear opportunity, in the 37th minute of the final stage, when Paraguayan striker Ramón Sosa was free in front of the opponent’s goal and only failed to score because of a great save by goalkeeper Álex Domínguez.
