The 1-0 advantage secured in Brazil allowed Palmeiras to play with greater composure, and in the ninth minute, the visitors found a huge breakthrough. Following a corner kick, Marlon Freitas took advantage of a rebound inside the box to make it 1-0 and extend the aggregate lead.
CONMEBOL Libertadores
Palmeiras Survives LDU Quito Miracle and Advances to Semifinals on Penalties
Palmeiras survived a night in Quito that appeared to be slipping away. The Verdão had the qualification in its hands, watched Michael Estrada become a hero with two goals in the final minutes, and ultimately needed a penalty shootout to eliminate LDU Quito and advance to the Libertadores semifinals.… Show More
Palmeiras survived a night in Quito that appeared to be slipping away. The Verdão had the qualification in its hands, watched Michael Estrada become a hero with two goals in the final minutes, and ultimately needed a penalty shootout to eliminate LDU Quito and advance to the Libertadores semifinals.
But LDU Quito responded immediately.
LDU Quito Refuses to Give Up
In the 14th minute, Luis Segovia found himself completely unmarked following a corner kick and scored the equalizer. From that moment on, the Ecuadorian side began to take control of the match, forcing Palmeiras to rely primarily on counterattacks to create danger.
In the second half, the home side increased the pressure. LDU Quito pushed its lines forward, pressed deep inside the opposition half and pinned the Brazilian side back for long stretches.
However, just when Palmeiras was beginning to suffer, an opportunity arrived that appeared to put the tie beyond reach.
A handball by Richard Mina inside the box resulted in a penalty in the 70th minute. Two minutes later, Vitor Roque sent Gonzalo Valle the wrong way with a perfectly taken spot kick to restore breathing room for the Verdão.
It appeared to be over.
It wasn't.
Michael Estrada Produces a Miracle Before the Penalty Shootout
In the 89th minute, Yerlin Quiñónez found Michael Estrada inside the box, and the striker headed home to restore hope in Quito.
Then came the madness.
In the 90+2nd minute, Estrada struck again with another spectacular header to level the tie and send the Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado into complete delirium. In a matter of minutes, LDU Quito went from being virtually eliminated to forcing the series into a penalty shootout.
From the spot, Andreas Pereira, Maurício, Joaquín Piquerez and Felipe Anderson converted for Palmeiras, while Carlos Miguel denied Lucas Rodríguez and Luis Segovia.
Gonzalo Valle kept the Ecuadorian side alive by saving Evangelista's penalty, but it was not enough.
LDU Quito produced the miracle needed to send the tie to penalties.
Palmeiras survived that miracle and secured its place in the Copa Libertadores semifinals.
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