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LDU Quito Shocks São Paulo, Reaches Libertadores Semifinals

9/27/2025

49 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

LDU Quito Advances

LDU Quito reaches Copa Libertadores semifinals for the first time; Independiente del Valle advances to Copa Sudamericana semifinals.
Flamengo advances to the Libertadores semifinals after defeating Estudiantes La Plata on penalties; LDU Quito advances with a 1-0 win over São Paulo, ending São Paulo's 23-match CONMEBOL unbeaten streak.
Palmeiras will face LDU in the semifinals, and Racing Club also advances.

Summary

River Plate Struggles

River Plate suffered a third consecutive loss across all competitions, the first since January 2019 this season.
Abel Ferreira earned his 13th Copa Libertadores knockout round win for Palmeiras, ranking third among coaches in club wins.
Maxmiliano Salas became the second player to score for two teams in one Copa Libertadores edition.

History

Historical Context

Nacional's 1988 Copa Libertadores victory marked a significant shift in South American football, as it opened the door for clubs like Flamengo and River Plate to dominate the tournament in subsequent decades. Recently, LDU Quito's semifinal advancement illustrates the rising competitiveness of Ecuadorian teams, potentially reshaping future tournaments and rivalries in the region.

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LDU Quito Advances

LDU Quito reaches Copa Libertadores semifinals for the first time; Independiente del Valle advances to Copa Sudamericana semifinals.
Flamengo advances to the Libertadores semifinals after defeating Estudiantes La Plata on penalties; LDU Quito advances with a 1-0 win over São Paulo, ending São Paulo's 23-match CONMEBOL unbeaten streak.
Palmeiras will face LDU in the semifinals, and Racing Club also advances.

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