Sao Paulo, Aug. 12 (BNA): Brazilian teams once again dominated the Copa Libertadores and secured three places in this year’s semi-finals of the major club football competition in South America.
Palmeiras will face defending champions Atletico under former coach Luis Felipe Scolari, who won the World Cup as coach of Brazil in 2002.
Flamengo will face last year’s runner-up, Velez Sarsfield, who reached the semi-finals after eliminating Talleres, according to the Associated Press.
At least one Brazilian team will participate in the October 29 final in Guayaquil, Ecuador, but the chance of another match with Brazil is high due to Flamengo’s high favorability in the semi-finals.
Palmeiras reached the semi-finals 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 semi-final against Atletico will have an emotional component for both sides. Scolari was coach of the Copa Libertadores title holders to their first title in the tournament in 1999.
Flamengo beat Corinthians 3-0 on aggregate. The Rio de Janeiro giants, who are negotiating with former Chelsea midfielder Oscar to join the next round, won the second leg 1-0 at the Maracana on Tuesday with a goal by striker Pedro in the 52nd minute.
Atletico needed the final moments of the second leg against Estudiantes de la Plata on Thursday to score the only goal and win their draw. Vitor Rock, 17, scored the decisive goal with a header from close range.
Argentinian Velez beat Talleres in the two-legged tie to secure his place in the quarter-finals with a 4-2 victory on aggregate. He beat his opponent away on Wednesday with a goal through Julian Fernandez in the 79th minute.
The Copa Sudamericana, the second most popular tournament in the region, will feature Brazil’s final against Peru’s Melgar or Ecuador’s Independiente del Valle, the winners of the tournament in 2019.
2012 champions Sao Paulo beat compatriot Ceara on penalties on Wednesday after a 2-2 aggregate win, while Atletico Guyanese beat Uruguay’s Luis Suarez Nacional 3-0 at home, adding to their 1-0 win in Montevideo in the first leg. . .
Del Valle advanced with a 5-1 aggregate win over Venezuela’s Deportivo Tachira. Brazil’s Melgar Internacional were eliminated on penalties on Thursday after two games without goals.
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