Santa Fe Eliminates River Plate in 22-Kick Shootout

Overview

• Santa Fe advanced to the Copa Sul-Americana quarterfinals after a 1–1 draw with River Plate in Buenos Aires was decided by penalties on Thursday.
• The shootout required 22 kicks and ended when goalkeeper Weimar Asprilla converted the final spot-kick to seal an 8–7 victory in the shootout.
• River took the lead through Sebastián Driussi before a handball by Martínez Quarta prompted referee Esteban Ostojich to award a penalty that Franco Fagúndez converted to force spot kicks.
• River dominated territory and created many chances but failed to finish efficiently, registering 17 first-half attempts with only two on target, and Lucas Beltrán missed his penalty after saving three spot kicks earlier in the shootout.
• As a result Vasco will face Santa Fe in the quarterfinals with the Brazilian club no longer set to return to River’s Monumental, and River’s exit narrows its paths to qualify for the 2027 Libertadores.