Key Takeaways:
- Liga de Quito defeated Palmeiras 3-0 in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores semifinal in Quito
- Gabriel Villamil scored twice and Lisandro Alzugaray converted a penalty in the opening half
- The second leg will be played next week in São Paulo, with Liga seeking to reach their first final since 2008
Match Overview
Liga de Quito produced a stunning display on Thursday evening, recording a 3-0 victory against Brazil’s Palmeiras in the opening fixture of their Copa Libertadores semifinal, held at the Rodrigo Paz Delgado Stadium in Quito.
All three goals were recorded during a dominant first half from the Ecuadorian side, providing them with a significant advantage ahead of the return leg in São Paulo next week, as they pursue a second Copa Libertadores crown.
First-Half Brilliance from Liga de Quito
The hosts, competing at over 2,800 metres (9,200 feet) above sea level, pressed their advantage from the start. After creating several early opportunities, Gabriel Villamil pounced on a chance from close range to open the scoring in the 16th minute.
📊🏆 Las estadísticas #bwinColombia del triunfo de @LDU_Oficial 🇪🇨 ante @Palmeiras 🇧🇷 por la Ida de la Semifinal de la CONMEBOL #Libertadores @BwinColombia #GloriaEterna pic.twitter.com/1VVzZsXdqd
— CONMEBOL Libertadores (@Libertadores) October 24, 2025
The lead was soon doubled in the 27th minute after a handball by Andreas Pereira resulted in a penalty. Lisandro Alzugaray stepped up and calmly slotted the ball past Palmeiras’ substitute goalkeeper Carlos Miguel, deputising for the injured Weverton.
Though Palmeiras improved as the half progressed and caused Liga’s goalkeeper Alexander Domínguez to make several interventions, it was the home side who struck again seconds before the interval. Villamil found himself in a shooting position following a swift counter-attack and made no mistake, firing in his second of the night to give Liga a commanding three-goal cushion.
Liga de Quito Eye Historic Final as Palmeiras Seek Response
Liga de Quito’s previous final appearance was back in 2008, when the Ecuadorians secured their sole Copa Libertadores title following a penalty shootout victory over Fluminense at the Maracanã Stadium. Having already knocked out Botafogo and São Paulo in this year’s tournament, they will now aim to protect their 3-0 aggregate lead in Brazil next week.
Elsewhere, Brazil’s Flamengo claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over Argentina’s Racing Club in the other semifinal’s first leg on Wednesday. That tie will be decided in Buenos Aires next week. The winners of the semifinals will contest the Copa Libertadores final on 29 November in Lima.
