Palmeiras had the decision power of strikers Vitor Roque and Flaco López and drew a 3-1 win over River Plate (Argentina), on Wednesday night (24) at Allianz Parque, in São Paulo, to ensure the classification for the Copa Libertadores de America semifinals.
🐷 @Palmeiras Victorious!
✈️ Verdon dug the passport to the next phase of the #Gloriaeterna. 🟢⚪
🏆 Conmebol #Libertadores pic.twitter.com/7edtgl2xbr
– Conmebol Libertadores (@libertadoresbr) SEPTEMBER 25, 2025
Verdon moved on in the competition because, in the quarterfinals match, last Wednesday (17) at the Monumental Stadium of Núñez, in Buenos Aires, came out with a 2-1 win.
Now the team led by Portuguese coach Abel Ferreira awaits the confrontation between São Paulo and LDU (Ecuador), next Thursday (25) at Morumbis, to meet his next opponent at Libertadores. In the round confrontation the Ecuadorians triumphed by the score of 2 to 0 at the altitude of Quito.
The game
There was great expectation around Palmeiras’ performance in front of their fans. However, the first few minutes of the game were marked by some frustration. This is because River Plate took advantage of a detention of the defense of Verdon to open the scoring with seven minutes of ball rolling. The Colombian Quinteros lifted the ball in the area in a free kick and rooms went free to mark headlong.
⚪🔴⚪ The celebration of @Riverplate!
🏆 Conmebol #Libertadores pic.twitter.com/9 atilegoyc
– Conmebol Libertadores (@libertadoresbr) SEPTEMBER 25, 2025
From then on the Argentine team, which was taking the decision to penalties with the partial victory, began to put the game, through faults and a lot of catimba. Already Palmeiras showed nervousness in the face of difficulties in creating opportunities to mark.
Panorama only began to change after the break, when coach Abel Ferreira changed the way his team’s acting, prioritizing the tips to the detriment of passing through the middle. And this is how Palmeiras arrived at the 5th minute of the final stage. Piquerez got up in the area and Vitor Roque headed. Goalkeeper Armani partially defended and Verdon’s own nine shirt hit the first one to score.
⚔️ It’s by #Gloriaeterna!
🇧🇷 @Palmeiras 🆚 @Riverplate 🇦🇷
🏆 Conmebol #Libertadores pic.twitter.com/gtzxrkr4n3
– Conmebol Libertadores (@libertadoresbr) SEPTEMBER 25, 2025
With the score in favor of the Brazilian team, River was forced to risk more. Finding more spaces in the opposing defense, Palmeiras managed to fit a perfect counterattack at 41 minutes with Facundo Torres. And the play was only stopped, inside the area, by Acuña. Penalty and expulsion of the Argentine defender. Flaco López charged the maximum penalty to put the summer in advantage.
But Abel Ferreira’s team wanted more, and reached the third, already 48 minutes, thanks to the brightness of Flaco López. The Argentine received ball at the entrance of the area, got rid of the marking of an opponent with a dribble of lyrics and hit a strong left kick, which eventually covering the goalkeeper Armani to give final numbers to the scorer.
