Carlos Miguel saved Nonato's kick and Palmeiras won the shootout 5-3 after the aggregate finished 2-2, with Hercules scoring for Fluminense in the 82nd minute.
The final is scheduled for 28 November at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay, against either Flamengo or Estudiantes.
Abel Ferreira, 47, will coach Palmeiras in his fourth Libertadores final, after titles in 2020 and 2021 and a defeat by Flamengo in 2025.
Carlos Miguel was the decisive figure as Palmeiras beat Fluminense on penalties on Wednesday, 21 October, despite losing the second leg 1-0 at home. Hercules scored for Fluminense in the 82nd minute, levelling the two-legged semifinal at 2-2 on aggregate after Palmeiras had won the first leg 2-1 in Rio de Janeiro. In the shootout, Carlos Miguel saved the fourth kick, taken by Nonato, and Marlon Freitas, a former Fluminense player, scored the final penalty to finish 5-3. Maurício, Gustavo Gómez, Ramón Sosa, Joaquín Piquerez and Freitas scored for Palmeiras, while Thiago Silva, Hércules and Guilherme Arana scored for Fluminense. Abel Ferreira had missed the first leg in Rio because he was suspended.
Abel Ferreira, the 47-year-old Portuguese coach, will contest his fourth Libertadores final with Palmeiras, having won the trophy in 2020 and 2021 and lost the 2025 final to Flamengo. It is Palmeiras' eighth final in the competition, and AP notes it is the second consecutive year the club has reached the decider. Ferreira has equalled Luiz Felipe Scolari for the most appearances in the decisive match by a coach of a Brazilian club. Only Luis Cubilla and Carlos Bianchi have also reached four finals with one club, and Bianchi holds the record with five. Speaking at his press conference, Ferreira reflected on the result.
“We have normalised something that is extremely difficult, which is reaching the Libertadores final.”
Data from the article text
Thiago Silva, the 42-year-old Fluminense defender, had hoped to end his career with a Libertadores title, but his side went out in the shootout. Fluminense's only Libertadores title came in 2023 under Fernando Diniz. Silva said it was his last Libertadores and that he wanted to enjoy the final games of his career. He defended Nonato, who missed the decisive kick, saying Nonato had apologised but did not need to. Silva has 121 international appearances for Brazil. He said the club's aim for the rest of the season is a top-four finish in the Brasileirão.
“It could have been me, it could have been Arana, or him. He just has to feel proud.”
Flamengo and Estudiantes drew 0-0 in the first leg in La Plata, Argentina, and meet in the second leg in the early hours of Friday, 23 October, to decide Palmeiras' opponent. Flamengo is coached by Leonardo Jardim. If Flamengo advance, the final would be a rematch of last year's decider, which Flamengo won. The final is scheduled for 28 November at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay. AP reports that Brazilian clubs have won the Copa Libertadores in each of the last seven years.
Pollar is free and carries no ads in the text. Its members keep it going.
Support PollarFootball · Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Montevideo
Carlos Miguel saved Nonato's kick as Palmeiras beat Fluminense 5-3 on penalties after a 1-0 home defeat in the second leg. The final is set for 28 November at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, against Flamengo or Estudiantes.
AI text based on reports by SAPO, RTP and AP NEWS. Published .