In a surprising turn of events, Peñarol secured a 1-0 victory over Flamengo in the first leg of their Copa Libertadores quarterfinal match at home. Javier Cabrera’s first-half goal, assisted by Maximiliano Silvera in the 13th minute, proved to be the difference in the game. This win marked Peñarol’s first victory over Flamengo at Maracana stadium in a Copa Libertadores match since 2019.

Peñarol, considered the underdogs in the series, will now await the winner between Botafogo and Sao Paulo, with their matchup currently tied 0-0 after the first leg. The Uruguayans, five-time Copa Libertadores champions, have faced difficulties in recent editions but have made a strong comeback this year by reaching the quarterfinals for the first time since 2011 when they were the runners-up.

Flamengo, on the other hand, invested heavily in the offseason, spending over $50 million in hopes of building a competitive team capable of contending for their fourth Copa Libertadores title. With Peñarol’s unexpected victory, the Brazilian club will need to regroup and strategize for the upcoming second leg to keep their title aspirations alive.

In the remaining quarterfinal matches, River Plate and Fluminense are level at 1-1 and 1-0 respectively, while Flamengo will look to overturn the deficit in the return leg against Peñarol. This year’s Copa Libertadores competition continues to deliver intense matchups and thrilling moments as teams battle it out for South America’s most prestigious club football title.