Palmeiras beat the Ecuadorian Independiente del Valle, in Quito, 3-2 and turned the score around in the last moments this Wednesday and took the isolated lead in Group F of the Copa Libertadores-2024.
Coach Abel Ferreira’s team improved throughout the match played at the Banco de Guayaquil stadium, the stronghold of the Black and Whites. ‘Verdão’ won a memorable triumph in the 2,850 m altitude of Quito with a goal in the last minute, which surprised and silenced the opposing team and its fans.
Kendry Páez, who is impressive at just 16 years old, opened the scoring at the Banco de Guayaquil stadium. In the 12th minute, after a collective play, the child prodigy made it 1-0 for the ‘negriazules’.
Páez appeared again in the 38th minute, assisting Argentine Michael Hoyos, who headed the Ecuadorian club’s advantage.
In the first half’s added time (45’+2) it was the turn of another gem to appear, but on the Alviverde side: Endrick scored a header for Palmeiras, who had a difficult first half.
The Alviverdes were just a ghost of themselves: slow and unable to retain the ball, they found themselves in trouble when Del Valle scored two goals in the first 45 minutes.
With the score at 2-1, the teams went to the changing rooms. The Ecuadorians, much more organized and putting pressure on the Brazilian team, seemed to have complete confidence in victory.
But the equalizer came in the 81st minute with a goal from Lázaro, who took advantage of the spaces provided by the opposing defense.
Independiente del Valle, whose objective is to become Libertadores champions after finishing second in 2016, went on the attack, but without effectiveness. The home team gave way to pressure from the visitors and ended up losing the game.
With the match already at the final whistle, Luis Guilherme, who had replaced Mayke in the 65th minute, scored the great goal that guaranteed Palmeiras’ victory.
A long-distance bomb silenced the stadium and made the three-time Libertadores champion Brazilian team explode with joy.
With this triumph, Palmeiras reached seven points and leads the group. Independiente del Valle and Uruguayan Liverpool are behind with four points. Argentine San Lorenzo is the red lantern with just one point.
On May 9, San Lorenzo hosts Independiente del Valle, in Buenos Aires, while Palmeiras visits Liverpool, in Montevideo.