Boca Juniors faced heartbreak on Tuesday night as they were eliminated from the Copa Libertadores by Alianza Lima. After a thrilling match at Estadio La Bombonera, the tie ended 2-2 on aggregate, forcing the decision to penalties where Boca faltered, proving once again the unpredictable nature of knockout football.
Having lost the first leg 1-0 in Lima, Boca Juniors started the second leg needing to win by at least two goals to secure advancement. The home team quickly drew level on aggregate when Miguel Trauco scored an own goal just five minutes after kickoff, igniting hopes among the Boca faithful.
Alianza Lima, undeterred, found the back of the net through Hernán Barcos at the 19-minute mark, putting them back on top on away goals. Boca, hungry to reclaim control, responded swiftly and took the lead again with Kevin Zenón scoring at the 58th minute, making it 2-1 on the night.
Despite the excitement and pressure, neither side managed to score again, resulting in the match concluding with 2-2 on aggregate. The match then progressed to penalties, where Alianza Lima showed composure, converting all five of their attempts. Unfortunately for Boca Juniors, their fate was sealed when Alan Velasco's attempt was saved by Alianza's keeper, Gullermo Viscarra, leading to Boca's failure to find the net on their final penalty.
Carlos Palacios, who started the match, played alongside key players from Boca's roster. Despite the team’s ambition, his performance drew mixed reviews as he was substituted shortly after Boca took the lead. Alberto Marcíco, Boca Juniors' idol and three-time title winner, remarked on Palacios's performance during pre-match discussions with ESPN. "Me gusta mucho el chileno, pero lo veo que está entrando poco en juego. Lo que pasa es que recién se está adaptando al fútbol argentino, donde tenemos más agresividad y tienes que estar más en contacto," he said, expressing affection for the young Chilean yet emphasizing his struggle with adaptation to Argentine football.
Marcíco's evaluation highlights the challenges foreign players often face when joining new leagues, particularly one as aggressive as the Argentine league. He noted how Palacios needs to engage more with the ball due to his forward-passing style; "(Palacios) tendría que entrar mucho más en contacto con la pelota, porque tiene ese pase que no va para los costados, va todo para adelante. Esos pasos son los que duelen." His insights underline the competence and the qualities Palacios possesses, calling for him to become more involved, particularly at pivotal moments like this.
The defeat renders Boca Juniors fans questioning the future of their campaign, as the Copa Libertadores offers prestige along with the opportunity for continental glory. This early elimination raises concerns over their current strategy and squad strength as they navigate through the Argentine league and the need for redemption. Alianza Lima, now moving forward, will face Iquique next in the tournament's third phase, celebrating their successful advancement with high hopes for the next round.
Wednesday morning saw reactions flood through social media from disappointed Boca fans and analysts alike, turning the team's recent performance underlined by mixed results. Boca Juniors hopes to regroup quickly to refocus on domestic competitions and rebuild their season from this unfortunate chapter.