Palmeiras Beats Fluminense on Penalties to Reach Copa Libertadores Final

The Palmeiras secured its spot in the Copa Libertadores final on Wednesday night, October 21, 2026, by defeating the Fluminense in a dramatic penalty shootout at Nubank Parque in São Paulo. Despite losing 1-0 during regulation time, the Alviverde triumphed 5-3 on penalties to book their eighth appearance in the continental tournament's decisive match.

Fluminense forced the shootout late in the match when Hércules scored at the 36th minute of the second half with a long-range strike into the left corner, following a buildup involving Wesley Natã, Samuel Xavier, and Hulk. The goal leveled the aggregate score at 2-2, as Palmeiras had previously won the first leg 2-1 at the Maracanã on October 14.

During the penalty sequence, the home side successfully converted all five of their attempts, while the visitors managed three successful shots. Goalkeeper Carlos Miguel proved to be a decisive factor once again, saving a penalty kick from Nonato before Marlon Freitas secured the winning goal on the final strike.

Speaking to the press after the match, Carlos Miguel reflected on his journey since joining the club in October 2025. "A year ago, when I arrived here, I didn't have the same smile," he told TV Globo, highlighting the renewed joy and maturity he found within the squad. Regarding his strategy during the penalty kicks, where he was spotted checking notes on a towel, the goalkeeper chose to keep his methods private.

The elimination brings an end to the Fluminense's campaign, marking the third-best run in the club's history in the Libertadores. The team will return to action on Saturday, October 24, to face Chapecoense in the Brazilian Championship.

For Palmeiras, the victory sets up an appearance in the final scheduled for Saturday, November 28, 2026, at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay. The team awaits the winner of the semifinal matchup between Flamengo and Estudiantes to determine their opponent in the single-match championship game.

The broadcast of the semifinal second leg also drew substantial viewership, peaking at 3.2 million simultaneous devices on Ge TV's YouTube channel during the penalty shootout. The figure represents the second-highest audience for the channel in this season's tournament, trailing only the match between Flamengo and Cruzeiro.