Brazil has 3 teams in Copa Libertadores semifinals

Posted August 11, 2022 7:00 am

By MAURICIO SAVARESE

Players of Brazil's Palmeiras celebrate their team's 6-5 win over Brazil's Atletico Mineiro in a penalty shoot-out during a Copa Libertadores quarter final second leg soccer match at Allianz Parque stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) The Associated Press

SAO PAULO (AP) - Brazilian teams are once again dominating the Copa Libertadores and have secured three spots in this year's semifinals of South America's top club soccer competition.

Defending champions Palmeiras will take on Athletico, led by their former coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, a World Cup winner as coach with Brazil in 2002. Last year's runner-up Flamengo will face Argentina's Velez Sarsfield, which reached the last four after eliminating Talleres.

At least one Brazilian team will be at the Oct. 29 final in Guayaquil, Ecuador, but the chance of another all-Brazil affair is high due to Flamengo's high favoritism in its semifinal.

Palmeiras reached the semis after beating local rivals Atletico Mineiro on penalties on Wednesday after a goalless draw at home. The first leg in Belo Horizonte last week ended 2-2, with Palmeiras coming back from a 2-0 deficit.

The Palmeiras versus Athletico semifinal will have an emotional component for both sides. Scolari was the coach of the defending Copa Libertadores champions for their first title in the tournament in 1999.

Flamengo beat Corinthians 3-0 on aggregate. The Rio de Janeiro giant, which is negotiating with former Chelsea midfielder Oscar to join for the next round, won the second leg 1-0 at the Maracana Stadium on Tuesday with a goal by striker Pedro in the 52nd minute.

Athletico needed the last moments of their second leg against Estudiantes de La Plata on Thursday to score the only and winning goal of its tie. Vitor Roque, who is 17, scored the decider with a close-range header.

Argentina's Velez beat Talleres in both legs to secure its place among the last four with a 4-2 aggregate win. It beat its rival away on Wednesday with a goal by Julian Fernandez in the 79th minute.

The Copa Sudamericana, the second most prestigious tournament in the region, will feature a Brazilian finalist against Peru's Melgar or Ecuador's Independiente Del Valle, the winners of the tournament in 2019.

The 2012 champion Sao Paulo side beat countrymen of CearÃƒ¡ on penalties on Wednesday after a 2-2 aggregate result, while Atletico Goianiense beat Luis Suarez's Nacional of Uruguay 3-0 at home, adding to its 1-0 win in Montevideo in the first leg.

Del Valle advanced with a 5-1 victory on aggregate against Venezuela's Deportivo Tachira. Melgar eliminated Brazil's Internacional on penalties on Thursday after two goalless matches.

___

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Arturo Vidal of Brazil's Flamengo, left, and teammate Gabriel Barbosa celebrate at the end of a Copa Libertadores quarter-final second leg soccer match against Brazil's Corinthians at Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. Flamengo won 3-0 on aggregate and qualified to the semifinals. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo) The Associated Press

Hector Fertoli of Argentina's Talleres, top, heads the ball with Matias de los Santos of Argentina's Velez Sarsfield during a Copa Libertadores quarter final second leg match at the Mario Alberto Kempes stadium in Cordoba, Argentina, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Nicolas Aguilera) The Associated Press

Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari of Brazil's Athletico Paranaense gives instructions to his players during a Copa Libertadores quarter-final first leg soccer match against Argentina's Estudiantes de la Plata at Arena da Baixada stadium in Curitiba, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Liamara Polli) The Associated Press

Article Comments

Article Categories
Content Providers MLS Pro Sports Soccer Sports Sports Leagues Sports Types

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.