Boca Edge Lanus on Penalties to Reach Apertura Quarter-finals amid Fan Unrest

Players of Boca Juniors look on during the penalty shootout of the Argentine Professional Football League 2025 Apertura Tournament match between Boca Juniors and Lanus at La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires on May 10, 2025. (Photo by ALEJANDRO PAGNI / AFP)
Players of Boca Juniors look on during the penalty shootout of the Argentine Professional Football League 2025 Apertura Tournament match between Boca Juniors and Lanus at La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires on May 10, 2025. (Photo by ALEJANDRO PAGNI / AFP)
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Boca Edge Lanus on Penalties to Reach Apertura Quarter-finals amid Fan Unrest

Players of Boca Juniors look on during the penalty shootout of the Argentine Professional Football League 2025 Apertura Tournament match between Boca Juniors and Lanus at La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires on May 10, 2025. (Photo by ALEJANDRO PAGNI / AFP)
Players of Boca Juniors look on during the penalty shootout of the Argentine Professional Football League 2025 Apertura Tournament match between Boca Juniors and Lanus at La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires on May 10, 2025. (Photo by ALEJANDRO PAGNI / AFP)

Boca Juniors claimed a 4-2 penalty shootout win over Lanus on Saturday to reach the Argentine Apertura tournament quarter-finals, following a tense 0-0 draw under a cloud of fan dissatisfaction at the La Bombonera stadium.
Boca goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin, who was pivotal in preserving the deadlock during the match, gave Boca an early advantage in the shootout by saving Alexis Canelo's opening kick.
Lanus winger Dylan Aquino then blazed a shot over the bar while Boca held their nerve, converting their first three penalties with confidence.
Substitute Milton Gimenez stepped up to convert the decisive spot-kick, sealing Boca's place in the next round where they will meet either Independiente or Independiente Rivadavia.
Despite the win, the mood at La Bombonera was far from festive, as local fans voiced their frustration with a series of underwhelming performances, directing chants at both the players and club management, Reuters reported.
"We definitely need to improve, but we achieved what we wanted to achieve, which was to get through the round. From here, we now have to work to improve," interim Boca coach Mariano Herron, who replaced sacked coach Fernando Gago last month, told reporters.
"We understand the fans' anger. We need to work to improve, but it's understandable that they weren't satisfied."
On the pitch, the match itself was low on quality, with neither side managing to assert dominance or create significant scoring opportunities.
Lanus had the best chance of the first half, with Ramiro Carrera's powerful long-range effort just before halftime, but Marchesin was on hand to make a crucial save.
"Fans can tell you how the match is going," Lanus captain Carlos Izquierdoz told ESPN.
"We attacked, we were well positioned, and the fact that their fans started to jeer means that we were doing things right. We were confident."
The Boca goalkeeper, however, continued to thwart Lanus, denying Marcelino Moreno early in the second half and making a series of interventions to keep the scoreline level, setting the stage for Boca's successful penalty shootout.
In the other Saturday last 16 fixtures, San Lorenzo secured a dramatic 2-1 win over Tigre, while Rosario Central made the most of their home advantage to knock Estudiantes out with a 2-0 victory.
Platense pulled off a major upset by claiming a late 1-0 win at Racing Club.



Brazil, Ecuador Qualify for 2026 World Cup Finals

Soccer Football - World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Brazil v Paraguay - Neo Quimica Arena, Sao Paulo, Brazil - June 10, 2025 Brazil's Vinicius Junior celebrates after qualifying for the World Cup REUTERS/Jorge Silva
Soccer Football - World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Brazil v Paraguay - Neo Quimica Arena, Sao Paulo, Brazil - June 10, 2025 Brazil's Vinicius Junior celebrates after qualifying for the World Cup REUTERS/Jorge Silva
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Brazil, Ecuador Qualify for 2026 World Cup Finals

Soccer Football - World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Brazil v Paraguay - Neo Quimica Arena, Sao Paulo, Brazil - June 10, 2025 Brazil's Vinicius Junior celebrates after qualifying for the World Cup REUTERS/Jorge Silva
Soccer Football - World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Brazil v Paraguay - Neo Quimica Arena, Sao Paulo, Brazil - June 10, 2025 Brazil's Vinicius Junior celebrates after qualifying for the World Cup REUTERS/Jorge Silva

Brazil and Ecuador secured their spots at the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday, taking the second and third of South America's six automatic qualifying berths after champions Argentina booked their ticket in March.

Brazil beat Paraguay 1-0 while Ecuador drew 0-0 with Peru as both teams climbed to 25 points with two matches to play, beyond the reach of Venezuela in seventh place.

Uruguay (24 points), Paraguay (24) and Colombia (22) occupy the remaining three automatic qualification positions ahead of the final two fixtures in September, Reuters reported.

Venezuela (18) would earn a playoff spot against a team from another confederation by finishing seventh. In Sao Paulo, a goal from Real Madrid attacker Vinicius Jr. on the stroke of halftime made it a winning home debut for Brazil's new coach Carlo Ancelotti.

"I'm very happy with today's result. We needed to win at home for our fans too and qualify for the World Cup, which was our goal," Vinicius said.

"Now (Ancelotti) will have more time to work, to see what he can improve. Today wasn't one of our best games, but the important thing in qualifying is to win and prepare well for the World Cup."

Brazil extended their record as the only team to play in every edition of the World Cup, with the five-times winners set to make their 23rd appearance in next year's tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Ecuador qualified for their second straight World Cup by avoiding defeat in Peru. The visitors were penned in their own half for the final 20 minutes after midfielder Alan Franco was shown a second yellow card.

draw all but ended Peru's hopes of qualifying, leaving them with 12 points, six behind Venezuela.

Earlier on Tuesday, Uruguay took a step closer to securing a spot with a 2-0 home victory over Venezuela at the Estadio Centenario, a victory which also snapped a four-match winless run in South American qualifiers.

Uruguay dominated much of the first half but struggled to break down a well-organized Venezuelan defense until Rodrigo Aguirre put the hosts ahead in the 42nd minute, heading in at the far post from a Maxi Araujo corner.

Giorgian De Arrascaeta doubled Uruguay's lead just two minutes into the second half, firing a superb shot into the top-left corner to seal a win that secures Marcelo Bielsa's side of at least an inter-confederation playoff berth.

Uruguay need only one point from their final two matches against Peru and Chile to make sure of a place at the finals.

Argentina needed an 81st-minute equalizer from Thiago Almada to cancel out Luis Diaz's goal and secure a draw with Colombia, avoiding a second straight defeat to Nestor Lorenzo's side.

Chile's hopes of reaching the finals ended with a 2-0 loss in Bolivia. Chile coach Ricardo Gareca resigned after the match.

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