Boca Juniors Advance to Copa Sudamericana Round of 16 After Penalty Shootout Against O’Higgins

Boca Juniors progressed to the round of 16 of the 2026 Copa Sudamericana after defeating O’Higgins in a penalty shootout on July 30. The match took place at the El Teniente stadium in Rancagua, Chile. O’Higgins won the second leg 1 to 0 with a goal from Francisco González, which leveled the aggregate score following Boca's 1 to 0 victory in the first leg at La Bombonera. Boca Juniors eventually won the penalty shootout 4 to 3 to secure their spot in the next round, where they will face Deportivo Recoleta of Paraguay. Colombian goalkeeper Álvaro Montero played a key role in the victory by saving a penalty from Luis Pavez. During the match, a tense confrontation occurred between Colombian referee Wilmar Roldán and Boca captain Leandro Paredes. Reports indicate that Paredes protested a foul and pushed the referee, who responded with a push and a yellow card. While the center right outlets agree on the match results, they frame the performance differently. Some center right coverage emphasizes the struggle of the Argentine side, noting that O’Higgins played better during the 90 minutes and that Boca advanced with difficulty. Other center right reporting focuses more on the individual contributions of Colombian players and the specific disciplinary clash between the referee and the captain.