Palmeiras vs Boca: 2-2 draw sets up SuperClásico Libertadores final

A 70th minute goal from Boca substitute Benedetto was enough to snuff out any hope Palmeiras had of staging a historic comeback in the Libertadores semi.
Palmeiras v Boca Juniors: Copa Libertadores 2018 - as it happened
Despite not having the late drama of last night's Gremio-River semi-final, there was a brief moment during the second half when Palmeiras fans had every right to feel their side were on the cusp of pulling off a major shock. Needing four goals after "Wanchope" Abila had put Boca level on the night, the men in green started the second period with a zest and purpose, lacking in the first 45 minutes.
Ramaón Abila Fernando Bizerra (EFE)
Luan pulled Scolari's side level in the 53rd minute and just eight minutes later Gomez converted a spot kick after Izquierdoz had clumsily bundled over the busy Dudu. Boca were shell shocked and on the ropes as the "Verdão" pushed for a third.
“Los Xeneizes” who had been comfortable in the first half brought on Dario Benedetto to replace the tireless "Wanchope" and the Argentinian international was to make the difference on the night and indeed in the tie as his 70th minute shot was too accurate for Weverton.
¡Una cita con la historia! 🌟 @CARPoficial y @BocaJrsOficial dejaron atrás dos enormes rivales y definirán en una gran final el campeón de la #CONMEBOLLibertadores🏆. ¡Se vienen dos verdaderos partidazos! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/xw5rBEwjuO
— CONMEBOL Libertadores (@Libertadores) November 1, 2018
The rest of the game was a formality with any hope of a comeback dying with the equaliser as Boca march on to the 2018 Copa Libertadores where they face city rivals River Plate in what is set to be a two legged affair of epic proportion.
Cheers for your company this evening and what a prosepect we have ahead of a historic final. Look forward to seeing you then !
....and so it ends 2-2 in Sao Paolo. First semi-final scheduled for November 7 with the return leg on November 28.
FT.... Boca Juniors are through to the final ! It's Boca Juniors vs River Plate ...and it will be epic !
Boca bench celebrates.... Boca have 6 Libertadores titles against River's 3....
Deyverson carded.
Many fans of the Argentine game were keen to avoid a Super Clasico final with even Boca and River supporters dreading the thought of losing to the eternal rival.
90' Deyverson heads against the bar but was offside.... We'll have 5' of added time
90' Credit goes to Palmeiras .... despite a discreet poor half, they took the game to Boca and were in the ascendency up to the point Bendetto bagged the 2-2
89' Final minute of the 90.... Fans starting to leave the Allianze Parque as the Boca fans celebrate
From what I've seen of both sides recently .... River would be my favourites for the title ..... but it will make for a fascinating contest
84' Boca have had 2-3 shots on target and found the net on two occasions .... maximum return from the Argentine side .....
84' Things rather flat here as it's the Boca fans making all the noise now.... As it stands.... we're in La Bombonera for the first leg next week and the return leg at the end of the month in El Monumental....epic !
Gago on and Perez off for Boca
80' Scarpa freekick over hit and flies over the bar ... Timid whistles from the home fans
79' Palmeiras are looking good in the Brazilain Serie A title race with a cushion of 4 points ahead of Flamengo
77' Palmeiras are on the ropes...the hope has drained from the players and fans too one senses....
76' Zarate hits the upright and Bendetto fails to connect with the rebound....
Gomez carded as Melo leaves the action.... Scarpa his replacement
75' 15' to go .... We're fifteen minutes away from a major piece of history in South American football...global football even with both Buenos Aires giants Boca and River set to play in the final of the Libertadores final
Pavon off- Zarate for Boca
73' Things have gone rather quiet here with that Boca equaliser meaning the home side need 3 goals again. 2-2 on the night, 2-4 on agg.
70' Palmeiras 2-2 Boca
Gooooooooool . Boca draw level . Benedetto rescues Boca
69' Dudu has been key in dragging the Brazilian side back into the tie. Imperative that Scolari's men maintain the dynamic.
Perez carded for dissent
Boca players now going to ground .... in this case Perez did take a boot to the face.
Palmeiras getting great joy down the Boca right side....
63' The noise level is crazy here !
Benedetto on Wanchope off (CABJ change)
60' Boca are on the ropes as the ball just bounces over the bar .... the fans have tunred the noise level up to 11!
Game on !!!!!!
60' So...who to take ? Gomez takes and makes it 2 for Palmeiras.... Gooooooooooool.....
Izquierdoz forces Dudu to the ground ..correct decision....
58' Penalty for the home side......
Card for Wanchope for protesting
54' Game (tie) on? Possibly...Boca have been very flat in the opening stage of the half, maybe feeling their work is done...another Palmeiras goal sooner rather than later would make things very interesting.
Palmeiras 1-1 Boca
49' Luannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn scores..... Palmerias draw level on the night
49' Palmeiras have upped the tempo and have an added degree of intensity. They just need to put a few chances away now....
49' Moises Lima-Henrique was the change for Palmeiras at the break
47' What a save from Rossi .... Lima drives a right footed effort and wrong footed the keeper manages to steer the ball away from goal.
Moises on for the home side at the break
45' Teams are back on the pitch... Boca to start the second 45'.
Is there any way back for Palmeiras ? Ask PSG fans or even Barcelona fans .... surprises can happen in this crazy game and a couple of early goals for the Brazilian side could change the emotional flow of the game ..... Having said that, the finishing from the men in green has been slack and Boca look good both in defence and on the break.
That's the end of the first 45'. We're just 45 minutes away from a historic Boca-River Libertadores final .... as big as a Madrid-Barça Champions League .... massive !!!! Quick break and we'll be back with the second half in Sao Paolo.
45' Free for Palmeiras..... last throw of the dice for the home side in this first half....call for a handball .... big appeal from the home players....repeat shows the ball did touch Perez on the hand ... Ref. shows limited interest and we're back underway ....
45' Boca managing the game to perfection.... in Wanchope they always have a attacking reference and a player who can hold the ball up majestically
45' 3' of time to be added
42' Failing to see any way through for Scolari's side. Despite the scoreline no change at this point from the veteran coach. I'd anticipate a substitution or two at the break for Verdao.
40' Palmeiras on the ball again.... plenty of possession but no way through a well disciplined Boca rearguard. Luan booked for a trip on Nandez
38' Scolari looks on with a worried look. What magic can "Big Phil" work for the men in green ?
Boca Juniors' Ramon Abila (L) celebrates scoring their first goal.
36' Let off for Boca as a cross ball ricochets off Magallan's thigh and bounces into the arms of Rossi. Palmeiras dominating possession now as Boca sit deeper.
35' Palmeiras getting chances but being let down by some very poor finishing.
30' Free for Palmeiras as Dudu looks for Deyverson. Barrios alert to clear, ball falls to Henrique and his shot is well off target. Meek whistles ringing out from the home crowd.
28' Bruno Henrique the standout player for Palmeiras so far. Solid defensively and creative in launching counters. Local fans have got their voice back !
28' That was a poor challenge from Melo and could have caused more serious damage to Wanchope. Play resumes....
The local fans are shellshocked and have lost that noise that opened the game. Four goals needed by Scolari's side.
26' Gustavo drives a header goal bound and forces the best from Rossi as Palmerias look for a way back. Card for Melo for an elbow.
24' The defending by the home side for the goal it has to be said was shocking with Luan absent as Wanchope pounced
22' Four goals needed by the home side ! A bridge too far it could be said.
Palmeiras 0-1 Boca Jrs.
Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool. Boca take the lead ....Wanchope fires Boca ahead .....
15' Plenty of interruptions to the game too .... gamemanship ? robust challenges ? a bit of everything I'd say .... We're back underway as Palmeiras probe.
14' So close ....Pavon almost opens the scoring toe poking the ball and beating Weverton but his shot trickles just wide. A lively opening 15' here in Sao Paolo.
12' Was that a Boca goal ? Weverton grabs the ball from a Wanchope header and the ball looked over the line. The ref. is going to have a busy one tonight !
No goal.... Ruled out for Deyverson offside.... as we were..... Correct call and a let-off for Boca
Hang on .... it looks like VAR is being consulted ...Deyverson looked slighlty offside in the move that lead to the goal....
Palmeiras 1-0 Boca
Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool. Palmeiras take the lead .... Henrique strikes to put Palmeiras ahead
7' Home fans find another level as Palmeiras win a corner. Easy for the Argentine side to clear.
6' Deyverson feeds a ball through to the frontline but the ball is well smothered by Boca keeper Rossi
5' Palmeiras fans finding their voice pushing their side on.
2' Rugged start with plenty of reckless tackles flying about. Palmeiras really need a goal in the first 20'. A Boca goal would see the Brazilian side requiring 4 goals which is .... yep a tall order.
2' Felipe Scolari is the Palmeiras coach, and oversaw Verdao's only previos Libertadores triumph in 1999
Match official Roberto Tobar gets us underway with Palmeiras kicking off!
Smoke fills the Allianz Parque as the match offical gets the sides ready ....
Dangermen for Boca.... Pavon and the goal threat offered by Wanchope as Ramón Ábila is known !
The teams are on the pitch as the anthems are played ... a packed house at the Allianz Parque and approx. 5,000 travelling Boca Juniors fans present too.
5 minutes to go .... Players to watch? Former Alaves and Levante striker Deyverson for Palmerias will be out to trouble the Boca rear guard.
Everything is set up for a Super Clasico Libertadores final? Palmeiras will certainly hope that isn't the case and an early goal for the Brazilian side will mak the evening that little more interesting.
20C degrees tonight in the Brazilian city of Sao Paolo ...ideal conditions for both players and supporters alike at the 55,000 capacity Allianz Parque
Boca too will sport their classic and iconic kit.... navy shirt with yellow band, navy shorts & socks.
Palmeiras will wear their classic green shirt, white shorts and green socks tonight
Big welcome from the local Torcida as the Palmeiras team bus pulled up at Allianz Pârque over an hour ago.
So...hands up who joined us for the first semi-final last night as River pulled off a shock on beating Gremio in Porto Alegre? Will the same drama unfold in Sao Paolo tonight?
River Plate claimed their place in the 2018 in dramatic fashion last night in Porto Alegre, defeating holders Gremio 1-2 with the winner coming from a 95th penalty awarded by VAR.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage from Sao Paolo as Palmeiras face Boca Juniors in the Copa Libertadores semi-final (second leg) with a place in the final against River Plate beckoning.
Palmeiras v Boca Juniors: preview
After the high drama in Porto Alegre as Argentinean Superliga side River Plate became the first finalists of the 2018 Copa Libertadores with a 95th minute VAR awarded penalty, the focus moves to Brazil’s second city of Sao Paolo as current Serie A table toppers welcome Boca Juniors.
Two late goals give “Los Xeneizes” an obvious advantage but a packed Allianz Parque with a passionate home crowd will sense that an early goal for Scolari’s men could change the dynamic of the tie and see Palmeiras through to their first Libertadores final since 2000.
Boca Juniors boss Guillermo Barros Schelotto is banned from the dugout as was River boss Gallardo last night. For Boca veteran star, Carlos Tevez will likely be once again on the bench for “Los Xeneizes” but both the Boca coach and his Palmeiras counterpart Scolari have no major injury problems as a place in the 2018 Copa Libertadores final beckons.
Line-ups
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10
Moisés Lima
On for Bruno Henrique
- 26 Victor Luis
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14
Gustavo Scarpa
On for Felipe Melo
- 3 Edu de Souza
- 1 Fernando
-
9
Miguel Borja
On for Willian
- 5 Thiago Santos
- 24 Julio Buffarini
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5
Gago
On for Pablo Pérez
- 28 Carlos Lampe
- 2 Goltz
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18
Benedetto
On for Ramón ÁbilaGoal
- 23 Tévez
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19
Zárate
On for Cristian Pavon