Goalkeeper Carlos Miguel parried a fourth-round spot kick from midfielder Gustavo Nonato on Wednesday (21) at Nubank Parque in São Paulo, sending Palmeiras into the 2026 Copa Libertadores championship match. Following a 1-0 loss in regular time that deadlocked the two-legged semifinal at 2-2 on aggregate, the São Paulo club prevailed 5-3 over Fluminense in the penalty shootout. Advancing to the continental decider guarantees the club a minimum payout of $7 million (roughly R$ 35 million) from the tournament organizers.
Penalty kicks became necessary after the Rio de Janeiro side overturned the deficit from the opening leg, which Palmeiras had won 2-1 at the Maracanã Stadium on October 14, 2026. Before the visitors found the net in the second half to force the shootout, Fluminense head coach Marcão gathered his squad during the second-half cooling break and told his players: “Heart, my brother, heart!”.
Spot-kick conversion rate and coaching returns in São Paulo
During the tiebreaker, the home team converted all five of its attempts from the penalty mark. Midfielder Maurício, defender Gustavo Gómez, forward Ramón Sosa, left-back Joaquín Piquerez, and defensive midfielder Marlon Freitas all beat goalkeeper Fábio, with Marlon Freitas netting the decisive fifth kick. Gustavo Gómez drove the second shot straight down the middle of the goal, while Ramón Sosa struck a firm shot into Fábio’s right corner on the third turn. For Fluminense, defender Thiago Silva, midfielder Hércules, and left-back Guilherme Arana each placed their shots into the left corner to score. On the fourth attempt for the visitors, Carlos Miguel dived to his left—the shooter’s right—and pushed away the strike from Gustavo Nonato.
On the touchline, Palmeiras head coach Abel Ferreira returned to direct the team after serving an automatic suspension in Rio de Janeiro resulting from a red card. The Portuguese manager remained without two squad members for the return leg, as striker Vitor Roque missed out with a right ankle sprain and player Jefté served a preventive suspension. Across the technical area, Marcão kept Fluminense organized until his team equalized the aggregate score in the final third of regulation through Hércules.
Minute-by-minute breakdown of regulation play
Fluminense generated the opening threat inside the first minute before losing a starter to injury midway through the first half, setting up an open second period where Hércules scored the solitary goal of the 90 minutes. Below are the primary events from regular time:
- 1st minute of the 1st half: Fluminense left-back Guilherme Arana combined in a one-two pass with forward Hulk and fired a dangerous shot that forced a save from Carlos Miguel.
- 30th minute of the 1st half: Fluminense defender Julián Millán suffered a non-contact thigh muscle injury and was replaced by Ignácio.
- 28th minute of the 2nd half: Head coach Marcão instructed the Fluminense players from the sideline, saying: “They are afraid of you”.
- 30th minute of the 2nd half: Palmeiras midfielder Jhon Arias received a yellow card from Uruguayan referee Esteban Ostojich.
- 32nd minute of the 2nd half: Palmeiras midfielder Andreas Pereira shot wide of the target from inside the penalty area.
- 34th minute of the 2nd half: Forward Ramón Sosa missed the target with a strike from inside the box for the home side.
- 36th minute of the 2nd half: Forward Wesley Natã exchanged passes with Hulk and set up midfielder Hércules, who curled a shot from the edge of the penalty area to open the scoring for Fluminense.
- 40th minute of the 2nd half: Ramón Sosa fired from inside the box, and the Fluminense backline blocked the attempt.
Continental finals record for the São Paulo club
Eliminating Fluminense puts Palmeiras into the Copa Libertadores final for the eighth time in club history. The result also marks a second consecutive trip to the championship game and a fourth appearance across the last six editions of South America’s premier club tournament. The team previously lifted the trophy in 1999, 2020, and 2021, while finishing as runner-up in 1961, 1968, 2000, and 2025—losing the 2025 final 1-0 to Flamengo in Lima, Peru. Earlier in the current campaign, in September 2026, Carlos Miguel had already secured qualification in the quarterfinals by stopping two penalty kicks against LDU in Quito.
Match data, officiating crew, and starting lineups
Palmeiras held a slight edge in ball possession and total passes over the 90 minutes while attempting three times as many shots as the visiting side. Official figures for paid attendance, total crowd, and gate receipts at Nubank Parque had not been released by the conclusion of immediate post-match reports.
- Score and date: Palmeiras 0 (5) x (3) 1 Fluminense on October 21, 2026, at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) at Nubank Parque in São Paulo (SP).
- Officiating crew: Uruguayan referee Esteban Ostojich, assisted by Martín Soppi and Horacio Ferreiro, with Alberto Javier Feres serving as the fourth official.
- Match statistics: Palmeiras recorded 53% ball possession, 558 passes, and 12 shots; Fluminense registered 47% possession, 525 passes, and 4 shots.
- Palmeiras lineup (head coach Abel Ferreira): Carlos Miguel; Murilo, Gustavo Gómez, Alexander Barboza, Giay (Khellven), Marlon Freitas, Lucas Evangelista, Andreas Pereira, Maurício, Jhon Arias, Paulinho, Piquerez, Flaco López, and Ramón Sosa.
- Fluminense lineup (head coach Marcão): Fábio; Guga, Samuel Xavier, Thiago Silva, Julián Millán (Ignácio), Guilherme Arana, Hércules, Nonato, Ganso, Lucho Acosta, Canobbio, Wesley Natã, Hulk, Savarino, and Serna.
The opponent for Palmeiras in the single-match final—scheduled for November 28, 2026, at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay—will be decided between Flamengo and Estudiantes. Those two clubs meet on Thursday (22) at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) at the Maracanã Stadium following a 0-0 draw in the first leg, while in weekend Campeonato Brasileiro action, Palmeiras faces Red Bull Bragantino and Fluminense takes on Chapecoense.
