Thiago Silva dejected after Fluminense loss
Thiago Silva felt he "failed again" after Fluminense was knocked out in the semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores after a penalty shoot-out defeat to Palmeiras.
Fluminense entered the second leg 2-1 down on aggregate, but Hercules sent the tie to penalties with a curling finish from outside of the box in the 82nd minute.
Mauricio began the shoot-out, finishing down the middle for Palmeiras, and Silva also scored Fluminense's first spot-kick.=
Fluminense is the third Brazilian team Palmeiras has eliminated in the Copa Libertadores semi-finals, after Corinthians (2000) and Atletico Mineiro (2021). The last time it knocked out a domestic rival in the semi-finals, it went on to win the trophy.
Silva, who revealed this would be his final appearance in the competition, was dejected after Fluminense's elimination.
"Whether we like it or not, no matter what people say about players not feeling the defeat, we deeply feel what the families in the stands and the 4,000 fans up there feel," the Fluminense captain said.
"Our sadness comes from looking at them, even from a distance, and seeing the tears in their eyes. That's why we took so long to leave. Their feelings are ours.
"We really wanted to bring this qualification back to Rio. Some people spent 28 hours on buses to be here. We know the financial difficulties involved in being here.
"I failed again. I've failed a lot in my career. Today was just another day. But I'll always hold my head high. I always strive for victory.
"But football has defeats that leave a negative mark. This wasn't negative. I leave with my head held high and very proud of my team.
"Sometimes these things happen, but I'm super proud of my group. It's even sadder because this was my last [Libertadores]."
Palmeiras will play in consecutive Copa Libertadores finals (2025 and 2026) for the third time in ita history, having previously done so in the 2020 and 2021 editions, as well as in 1999 and 2000.
It will face either Estudiantes or Flamengo in the showpiece.
Thiago Emiliano da Silva
Fluminense FC
