Palmeiras Storms Into Libertadores Semifinals After 3-1 Win Over River Plate

Match overview

The Allianz Parque turned into a battlefield on September 25, 2025, as Palmeiras hosted Argentine giants River Plate in the Copa Libertadores quarter‑final second leg. River Plate struck first in the 8th minute when Maximiliano Salas tucked the ball home, sending the Argentine fans into a frenzy and putting the home side on the back foot.

Rather than panic, Palmeiras regrouped during the break and emerged with renewed energy. The turning point came early in the second half when Vitor Roze found space at the edge of the box and smashed a level‑anchoring goal in the 51st minute. The equaliser shifted the momentum and gave the Brazilian crowd a surge of confidence.

Both coaches rattled their tactics, but the game’s tempo stayed high. Mid‑field battles were fierce, and the Argentine side kept pressing, hoping to restore a two‑goal cushion. Yet each Palmeiras forward seemed to anticipate the next danger, and the defensive line held firm, conceding only a single yellow card before the final 15 minutes.

The drama in the final minutes

Stoppage time delivered a scene straight out of a film. José López stepped up to the penalty spot in the 90+1 minute, coolly converting to give Palmeiras a 2‑1 lead. The stadium erupted, but the drama was far from over.

Just three minutes later, López struck again, this time from the edge of the area, firing a low shot that slipped past the River Plate keeper. The 90+4 minute goal sealed a 3‑1 victory on the night and pushed the aggregate to 5‑2. The Brazilian side celebrated wildly while River Plate’s players trudged off, visibly frustrated.

The match wasn’t just about goals. Early in the second half, a heated exchange between Marcos Acuña and a Palmeiras defender spiraled into a near‑brawl. Tempers flared, shouts echoed across the stadium, and the referee produced a flurry of yellow cards to restore order. In total, four players received cautions, underscoring how tightly wound the encounter was.

Beyond the raw statistics, the game highlighted the deep-rooted rivalry between Brazilian and Argentine clubs. Fans from both sides sang, waved flags, and lived every tackle. The physicality was a reminder that South America’s premier club competition is as much about passion as it is about skill.

With this win, Palmeiras secures a spot in the semifinals, where they will face another heavyweight determined to lift the coveted trophy. The team’s resilience after the early goal, combined with López’s clutch performance, will be talked about for weeks. River Plate, meanwhile, must regroup and look ahead to the upcoming domestic challenges, taking lessons from a night that slipped through their fingers despite a promising start.