{"id":660797,"date":"2025-10-24T06:00:48","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T10:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=660797"},"modified":"2025-10-24T06:29:13","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T10:29:13","slug":"altitude-ambush-ldu-quito-stuns-palmeiras-3-0-in-copa-libertadores-semifinal-first-leg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2025\/10\/24\/altitude-ambush-ldu-quito-stuns-palmeiras-3-0-in-copa-libertadores-semifinal-first-leg\/","title":{"rendered":"Altitude Ambush: LDU Quito Stuns Palmeiras 3-0 in Copa Libertadores Semifinal First Leg"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>With the first leg of action in both the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2025\/10\/20\/palmeiras-and-flamengo-take-on-copa-libertadores-semifinals-after-weekend-clash\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana semifinals<\/a> complete, the results were far from straightforward.<\/p>\n<h2>LDU Quito Conjures Memories of 2008<\/h2>\n<p>LDU Quito, Ecuador\u2019s *King of Cups*, has lifted the Copa Libertadores just once in their 106-year history. That moment came in 2008, when they defeated Brazil\u2019s Fluminense on penalties after edging Mexico\u2019s Club Am\u00e9rica in the semifinal.<\/p>\n<p>Seventeen years later, that same magic has returned. LDU Quito have stormed through a gauntlet of Brazilian opponents and now stand just 90 minutes away from the 2025 Libertadores final. They\u2019ve taken down Botafogo \u2014 the 2024 Libertadores and Brasileiro champion \u2014 by 2\u20131, cruised past S\u00e3o Paulo FC 3\u20130, and most impressively, dismantled Palmeiras 3\u20130 at home in Quito. That emphatic first-leg win means Palmeiras, one of the richest clubs in South America, will have to chase the game from the opening whistle when they host the return leg in S\u00e3o Paulo. Palmeiras will need a historic comeback after the first leg.<\/p>\n<p>Brazilian fans have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.readkong.com\/page\/conmebol-libertadores-cup-altitude-impact-on-goals-and-3392544\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">blamed the altitude<\/a> for their team\u2019s collapse, but excuses don\u2019t change the scoreline. After a key league loss to Flamengo over the weekend, Palmeiras again fell apart, and this collapse was early \u2014 conceding three first-half goals and fortunate not to concede more. Bolivia\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NathanJoyes1\/status\/1981611638823276927\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gabriel Villamil<\/a> scored twice, while <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/CifutBR\/status\/1981537760524849460\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bryan Ram\u00edrez<\/a> orchestrated much of the attack. Ram\u00edrez was later sent off and will miss the second leg, while Lisandro Alzugaray calmly converted a penalty for the second goal.<\/p>\n<div class=\"getty embed image\" style=\"background-color: #fff; display: inline-block; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; color: #a7a7a7; font-size: 11px; width: 100%; max-width: 594px;\">\n<div style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2242900152\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n<div style=\"overflow: hidden; position: relative; height: 0; padding: 66.66667% 0 0 0; width: 100%;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"display: inline-block; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; margin: 0;\" src=\"\/\/embed.gettyimages.com\/embed\/2242900152?et=X9gojHNiRr9p7VQu2ibyKA&amp;tld=com&amp;sig=rHAyIBzK48TWwl4E9M1hIV-6Ap3CtqwbYf-zutj_1Us=&amp;caption=true&amp;ver=1\" width=\"594\" height=\"396\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3>Manager Tiago Nunes Gives Quito Confidence<\/h3>\n<p>Brazilian <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fifa.com\/en\/tournaments\/mens\/intercontinentalcup\/2025\/articles\/tiago-nunes-ldu-quito-copa-libertadores\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Manager Tiago Nunes<\/a> has kept his Quito side composed and fearless against Brazil\u2019s elite. The stats suggest a closer match \u2014 LDU had 59% possession and only one more shot (17\u201316) \u2014 but their composure and precision made the difference. Palmeiras had been unbeaten in October before back-to-back defeats to Flamengo and LDU, and now face a draining fight on two fronts: the Brasileiro title race and an uphill battle in the Libertadores. Despite being a lesser known squad, LDU Quito\u2019s discipline and belief may carry them through, even if they must defend for all 90 minutes in S\u00e3o Paulo.<\/p>\n<h3>A Goal from Jorge Carrascal Gives Flamengo Confidence Against Racing Club<\/h3>\n<div class=\"getty embed image\" style=\"background-color: #fff; display: inline-block; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; color: #a7a7a7; font-size: 11px; width: 100%; max-width: 594px;\">\n<div style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2236133722\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n<div style=\"overflow: hidden; position: relative; height: 0; padding: 66.66667% 0 0 0; width: 100%;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"display: inline-block; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; margin: 0;\" src=\"\/\/embed.gettyimages.com\/embed\/2236133722?et=iZ4HH-QqRQZsPdyhpXR8qA&amp;tld=com&amp;sig=0cTwCN7qMsbfedD5N6DFffnAKcN7xRXhnfvfJ-W7LGM=&amp;caption=true&amp;ver=1\" width=\"594\" height=\"396\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Flamengo\u2019s hunt for a domestic and continental double remains alive. Playing at the Maracan\u00e3, they didn\u2019t fully capitalize on their dominance but still earned a narrow 1\u20130 win. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eluniversal.com.co\/deportes\/2025\/10\/23\/jorge-carrascal-es-pura-magia-y-talento-con-el-flamengo-de-brasil\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Colombian playmaker Jorge Carrascal<\/a> \u2014 hoping to be on the squad for the next World Cup \u2014 scored in the 88th minute to break the deadlock, after Samuel Lino\u2019s earlier goal was ruled offside.<\/p>\n<p>Argentina\u2019s Racing Club set up to survive rather than to play, and it showed. Flamengo had 72% of possession, 20 shots to Racing\u2019s 4, and more than triple the completed passes. On another night, the score might have been three or four. They may regret not finishing the tie in Rio, but Racing will need a complete transformation to turn things around in Avellaneda.<\/p>\n<h3>Dudu\u2019s Late Goal Gives Atl\u00e9tico Mineiro The Upper Hand In Sudamericana Semifinals<\/h3>\n<p>Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle looked to be in control early on, with Junior Sornoza converting a penalty to give them the lead. The former Ecuador international, who recently scored <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DSportsEC\/status\/1981073195206922350\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">his 100th goal for the club<\/a>, had IDV looking confident and in command during the first half in Quito.<\/p>\n<p>But Brazil\u2019s Atl\u00e9tico Mineiro roared back after the break. IDV failed to register a shot on target in the second half as Mineiro pressed forward relentlessly. In stoppage time, 33-year-old forward Dudu latched onto a pass from Hulk, who had found space against the defence, to equalize \u2014 a classic combination of veteran poise and late drama. Heading home to Brazil, Atl\u00e9tico Mineiro now look favored to reach the final, but Ecuadorian football\u2019s dream of two Quito clubs in continental finals remains very much alive.<\/p>\n<div class=\"getty embed image\" style=\"background-color: #fff; display: inline-block; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; color: #a7a7a7; font-size: 11px; width: 100%; max-width: 594px;\">\n<div style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2242127411\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n<div style=\"overflow: hidden; position: relative; height: 0; padding: 66.66667% 0 0 0; width: 100%;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"display: inline-block; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; margin: 0;\" src=\"\/\/embed.gettyimages.com\/embed\/2242127411?et=oYOrEvo6SIdnD84HVaNQTg&amp;tld=com&amp;sig=cNGMSEDYujGdh1sln1V4sM-KjE2ny6eifgMk4J3vpmg=&amp;caption=true&amp;ver=1\" width=\"594\" height=\"396\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Should IDV advance, they\u2019d be chasing their third Copa Sudamericana title since 2019 \u2014 an astonishing run that underscores this golden era for Ecuadorian football.<\/p>\n<h3>An Empty Stadium Doesn\u2019t Stop A Universidad de Chile Comeback<\/h3>\n<p>Lan\u00fas forward Rodrigo Castillo stunned Universidad de Chile with two goals in four minutes during the first half of their Sudamericana semifinal first leg. The Chilean side <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beinsports.com\/en-us\/soccer\/conmebol-sudamericana\/articles\/universidad-de-chile-snatches-a-dramatic-draw-against-lan%C3%BAs-2025-10-24\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">played in an empty stadium<\/a> due to sanctions for fan behavior, stripping away the atmosphere that usually fuels them.<\/p>\n<p>Down 2\u20130 and without their supporters, Universidad\u2019s situation looked dire. But substitute Lucas Di Yorio, an Argentine, pulled one back in the second half, and veteran leader Charles Ar\u00e1nguiz coolly converted a stoppage-time penalty. Lan\u00fas, who finished with six yellow cards \u2014 five in the final ten minutes \u2014 lost control as the match descended into chaos.<\/p>\n<div class=\"getty embed image\" style=\"background-color: #fff; display: inline-block; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; color: #a7a7a7; font-size: 11px; width: 100%; max-width: 594px;\">\n<div style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2242536313\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n<div style=\"overflow: hidden; position: relative; height: 0; padding: 66.66667% 0 0 0; width: 100%;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"display: inline-block; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; margin: 0;\" src=\"\/\/embed.gettyimages.com\/embed\/2242536313?et=FY06pj5BRcxVYkG7TjDH0Q&amp;tld=com&amp;sig=JGULUg07M-Gl2MNexbt8qYkzeplVSrTLY1LfH8G35Vs=&amp;caption=true&amp;ver=1\" width=\"594\" height=\"396\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Despite the early setbacks, Universidad dominated the ball with 73% possession and 22 total shots, nine on target. The comeback showed resilience, character, and perhaps a touch of destiny. Lan\u00fas will be expected to adjust tactically at home, but the Chileans will travel to Argentina with momentum firmly on their side.<\/p>\n<p>The 2025 Libertadores and Sudamericana tournaments continue to show South America is where altitude, emotion, and a stray red card can turn an entire season on its head.<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo Credit: Imago Images Copyright: xROLANDOxENRIQUEZx<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With the first leg of action in both the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana semifinals complete, the results were far from straightforward. LDU Quito Conjures Memories of 2008 LDU Quito, Ecuador\u2019s *King of Cups*, has lifted the Copa Libertadores just once in their 106-year history. That moment came in 2008, when they defeated Brazil\u2019s Fluminense [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1442,"featured_media":660798,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2,30],"tags":[6887,3100,32574,2949,7477,32643,32607,898,6885,32610],"class_list":["post-660797","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-news","tag-atletico-mineiro","tag-copa-libertadores","tag-copa-sudamericana","tag-flamengo","tag-independiente-del-valle","tag-lanus","tag-ldu-quito","tag-palmeiras","tag-racing-club","tag-universidad-de-chile"],"modified_by":"Steen Kirby","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/660797","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1442"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=660797"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/660797\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":660815,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/660797\/revisions\/660815"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/660798"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=660797"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=660797"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=660797"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}