Scandalous Match Finale in Buenos Aires: Boca Faces Libertadores Exit. Boca failed to secure victory in a crucial Libertadores match. A controversial refereeing decision at the end left the team without a guarantee of advancing to the playoffs. Now, everything will be decided in the final round.
In Buenos Aires, the match between Boca and Cruzeiro ended in scandal: the home team was left without a win and will now have to fight for a place in the Libertadores playoffs in the final round. The main topic of the game was the referee's decision not to award a penalty in stoppage time, despite a VAR review, which sparked a storm of discussion among fans and players.
From the opening minutes, Boca showed an aggressive attitude and controlled the flow of the game. In the early stages, Otavio saved Cruzeiro three times from conceding, stopping shots from Braida, Merentiel, and Aranda. The home side's pressure led to a goal: after a cross from Paredes and a failed goalkeeper intervention, Merentiel opened the scoring, capitalizing on a defender’s error.
However, after the break the script changed. Boca became more cautious, allowing Cruzeiro to seize the initiative. In the 60th minute, Fagner equalized, and soon after the visitors were reduced to ten men: Gerson was sent off after a video review for a rough foul on Paredes. Despite having a numerical advantage, Boca could not convert their chances.
The climax came in the final minutes: Merentiel’s goal was ruled out for a handball by Delgado, and in the very last attack Romero blocked a shot with his hand inside the penalty area. VAR called referee Valenzuela to the monitor, but he did not overturn his decision and did not award a penalty. The result—a draw—leaves Boca in a tough position ahead of the last round.
For Cruzeiro, this result was essentially a victory, while for Boca, it was a reason to be unhappy with the refereeing. After the match, captain Paredes noted that VAR decisions are interpreted differently in similar situations. Now Boca’s fate will be decided in the match against Universidad Católica.
The issue of refereeing and VAR in South American football has sparked controversy before. Similar concerns have been raised in other tournaments as well: for example, the controversial work of referees in matches involving Spanish clubs was recently discussed, such as after the Barça vs Betis game, where defender Araujo’s role was questioned — more details can be found in the article about the changes in Barça’s defense.
For reference: the Copa Libertadores is the main club tournament in South America, and participation in it is traditionally a matter of prestige for Boca. If the club fails to advance from the group stage, it risks missing the playoffs for the first time in many years. In recent years, questions about the work of VAR and referees have become increasingly pressing, affecting trust in the outcomes and stirring debate among fans and experts.
