Latin America Sports Daily for Saturday, August 29, 2026

Santa Fe stun River Plate in 22-kick shootout

Result

Independiente Santa Fe knocked River Plate out of the Copa Sudamericana with an 8-7 penalty shootout win on Wednesday night in Buenos Aires. The second leg finished 1-1 at the Más Monumental, leaving the aggregate level at 1-1 after a goalless first leg in Bogotá.

The tie had been rescheduled after the magnitude-7.4 earthquake that struck Colombia on August 10. The first leg at El Campín was finally played on August 19 and ended 0-0.

The shootout stretched to 22 kicks, 11 per side. River goalkeeper Santiago Beltrán made three saves in the shootout but missed his own decisive attempt, sending Santa Fe through.

Santa Fe now host Vasco da Gama in the quarter-final first leg at El Campín on September 8. The return is scheduled for September 15 at São Januário in Rio de Janeiro.

Fluminense edge through in Mendoza shootout

Result

Fluminense reached the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals after a 1-1 draw at Independiente Rivadavia on August 18. The first leg in Rio de Janeiro had ended 0-0, so the stalemate at the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas sent the tie to penalties.

Kevin Serna put the Brazilians ahead in the 75th minute, and Alex Arce equalised from the penalty spot deep in stoppage time. In the shootout, veteran goalkeeper Fábio made two saves as Fluminense prevailed 5-4.

Fluminense face another Argentine side, Platense, in the quarter-finals. The first leg will be at the Maracanã between September 8 and 10.

Copa Libertadores quarter-final field complete

Football

The eight quarter-finalists are Fluminense, Flamengo, Palmeiras and Corinthians of Brazil, Estudiantes and Platense of Argentina, and Liga de Quito and Independiente del Valle of Ecuador. Mirassol, the other Brazilian club alive at the start of the round, were eliminated by Liga de Quito.

Independiente del Valle completed the line-up on Tuesday, beating Deportes Tolima 3-1 in Quito for a 4-1 aggregate win. That tie had also been pushed back by the earthquake in Colombia.

Elsewhere, Estudiantes won 3-0 at Universidad Católica to advance 4-1 on aggregate, and Palmeiras won 1-0 at Cerro Porteño to go through 2-1. Flamengo beat Cruzeiro 2-1 to advance 3-2, Platense edged Coquimbo Unido on penalties, and Corinthians saw off Rosario Central.

CONMEBOL has confirmed the quarter-final window: first legs between September 8 and 10, second legs between September 15 and 17. The ties are Fluminense vs Platense, Estudiantes vs Corinthians, Independiente del Valle vs Flamengo, and Palmeiras vs Liga de Quito, with the final on November 28 at Montevideo’s Estadio Centenario.

What the shootout means for South American football

Analysis

Santa Fe’s victory at the Más Monumental is one of the most dramatic results of this season’s Copa Sudamericana. The Colombian club withstood River Plate’s home pressure across 90 minutes and a marathon shootout.

For River Plate, the defeat ends their bid for a second Sudamericana title. The Argentines had been favourites to progress after the goalless first leg in Bogotá.

The Sudamericana quarter-finals pair Santa Fe with Vasco da Gama, Boca Juniors with São Paulo, Santos with Atlético Mineiro, and Cienciano with Montevideo City Torque. The final will be played on November 21 in Barranquilla, Colombia.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

Who won between River Plate and Santa Fe in the Copa Sudamericana?

Independiente Santa Fe won the tie. The second leg finished 1-1 at River Plate’s Más Monumental, leaving the aggregate at 1-1, and Santa Fe took the penalty shootout 8-7.

How did Fluminense reach the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals?

After a 0-0 first leg in Rio de Janeiro, Fluminense drew 1-1 at Independiente Rivadavia in Mendoza. With the aggregate level, Fluminense won the penalty shootout 5-4.

When are the Libertadores and Sudamericana quarter-finals?

First legs are scheduled between September 8 and 10, with second legs between September 15 and 17. Santa Fe host Vasco da Gama at El Campín on September 8, and Fluminense meet Platense at the Maracanã.