Palmeiras vs. Botafogo: Thrilling 2-2 Draw Sends Botafogo to Copa Libertadores Quarter

Botafogo and Palmeiras played out a dramatic 2-2 draw in the second leg of the Copa Libertadores round of 16 on Wednesday night at Allianz Parque. Despite Palmeiras’ late surge, Botafogo managed to hold on and advance on aggregate, thanks to their earlier win in the first leg.

Match Recap: A Tale of Two Halves

Coming into the match with a narrow advantage from the first leg, Botafogo knew a draw would be enough to secure their place in the next round. The Rio de Janeiro side started confidently, controlling possession and dictating the tempo. Their early dominance paid off after just 10 minutes when Igor Jesus capitalised on a cross from Savarino, calmly slotting the ball past the Palmeiras keeper.

Savarino, who had been a constant threat, then doubled Botafogo’s lead with a stunning strike, putting the visitors firmly in control. At this point, it seemed as though Botafogo were cruising to victory.

However, Palmeiras, spurred on by their home crowd, refused to give up. They clawed their way back into the game, with Flaco López scoring a crucial goal to ignite hopes of a comeback. Moments later, Rony levelled the score, setting up a tense finale as Palmeiras pushed for a winner.

VAR Drama and Final Outcome

In the dying moments of stoppage time, Palmeiras thought they had completed a remarkable turnaround when Gustavo Gómez found the back of the net. However, the joy was short-lived as VAR intervened, ruling the goal out for a handball in the build-up.

The final whistle confirmed a 2-2 draw on the night, but it was Botafogo who advanced to the quarter-finals, winning 4-3 on aggregate.

Copa Libertadores Results, Round of 16