Palmeiras beats Boca and wins unprecedented Women’s Libertadores Cup

In its first participation in the Women’s Copa Libertadores, Palmeiras won this Friday (28) the unprecedented title of the competition. The alviverde team beat Boca Juniors (ARG) 4-1, in the final in a single match played at the Rodrigo Paz Delgado stadium, in Quito, Ecuador.

Ary Borges, Byanca Brasil, Poliana and Bia Zaneratto scored the goals that guaranteed the Brazilian team’s celebration.

The Palmeiras conquest crowns the resumption of women’s football at the club, which began in 2019 after a seven-year hiatus without the category. Since returning, the São Paulo team won the Copa Paulista twice, in 2019 and 2021, and was runner-up in the Brazilian (2021).

With the title alviverde, Brazil expands its hegemony in the Women’s Libertadores. Now, there are 11 trophies in the country in 12 editions. Corinthians (2017, 2019 and 2021) and São José (2011, 2013 and 2014) have three titles each. Santos (2009 and 2010) and Ferroviária (2015 and 2020) have two. And now Palmeiras joins the group.

Argentina, on the other hand, was looking with Boca for the first conquest in the tournament, in the club’s seventh participation. The Argentine team’s vice president keeps Atlético Huila, from Colombia, as the only non-Brazilian club to win the competition.

In the first final of Palmeiras and Boca, the Brazilians seemed more comfortable when the ball rolled. So much so that, at 4 minutes, Ary Borges opened the scoring. She was left with the remainder after a free kick and finished on the first try.

The Argentines, however, did not feel the blow. On the contrary, the reaction did not take long. At 14 minutes, Brisa Priori managed to find the tie, after counterattack. And there was little left for the comeback six minutes later, in the bid in which Yamila Rodríguez hit the post, finishing from a plate.

The Brazilian team was nervous. It was a very different posture from the one he presented until reaching the decision, when he obtained 100% success, with five wins, 15 goals scored and only two conceded.

Boca, in turn, showed the same impetus that they had, especially in the knockout stage, when they beat Corinthians in the quarterfinals and then overcame Deportivo Cali, in the semifinals.

Palmeiras had an easier path to the final. In the previous phase, it surpassed América de Cali. Before, in the quarters, he had defeated Santiago Morning. In the group stage, they won triumphs against Liberdad Limpeño, Independiente Dragonas and Universidad de Chile.

After the break, the Brazilians returned with the same footprint they had in those games, seeking to attack in a more organized way and exploring plays from above. It worked out.

Byanca Brasil put the Brazilians ahead again at the beginning of the second half. At four minutes, she scored with a header.

It was also from the top that shortly after, at 13, Poliana scored Palmeiras’ third and left the team in a more comfortable situation to control the game until securing the cup. Before the end, there was still time for Bia Zaneratto to book the fourth and close the bill.