Palmeiras plays Copa Libertadores final despite 2nd-leg loss

Posted January 12, 2021 6:00 am

By MAURICIO SAVARESE

Robert Rojas of Argentina's River Plate leaves the field after receiving a red card during a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match against Brazil's Palmeiras at the Allianz Parque stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021. (Nelson Almeida/Pool via AP) The Associated Press

SAO PAULO (AP) - Brazil's Palmeiras has advanced to the Copa Libertadores final despite losing 2-0 to Argentinian soccer power River Plate on Tuesday in the second leg of the semifinal.

Palmeiras advanced on aggregate because of its 3-0 win away over the Argentinians in the opening leg last week. The Brazilians won the tournament in 1999.

They will play their fifth decider of the South American tournament. Palmeiras' opponent in the Jan. 30 final at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro will be local rivals Santos or Boca Juniors, who play Wednesday in the second leg after the first leg ended 0-0 in Buenos Aires.

River's goals at the Allianz Parque stadium were scored by Robert Rojas in the 29th minute and Rafael Santos BorrÃ© in the 44th, both from headers. Rojas was sent off for a second yellow in the 73rd minute, but the Argentinians kept pressuring Palmeiras until the end of the match.

The tense clash in Sao Paulo was marked by several decisions by video review that upset the visiting side. The most decisive review disallowed River's third goal, scored at the beginning of the second half following a short- range volley by Gonzalo Montiel.

Uruguayan referee Esteban Ostojich made the decision due to an offside long before the goal was scored, which appeared to confuse many of the players.

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Alan Empereur of Brazil's Palmeiras celebrates at the end of a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match against Argentina's River Plate at the Allianz Parque stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021. Palmeiras won 3-2 on aggregate and advanced to the final. (Amanda Perobelli/Pool via AP) The Associated Press

Players of Argentina's River Plate stand on the field at the end of a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match against Brazil's Palmeiras at the Allianz Parque stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021. Palmeiras won 3-2 on aggregate and advanced to the final. (Nelson Almeida/Pool via AP) The Associated Press

Rafael Santos Borre of Argentina's River Plate, front, and Kuscevic of Brazil's Palmeiras battle for the ball during a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match at the Allianz Parque stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021. (Nelson Almeida/Pool via AP) The Associated Press

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