Boca failed to seize two clear advantages during the 90 minutes but celebrated on penalties thanks to another heroic performance from Romero.
The club recruited Sergio Romero for his wealth of experience and temperament, hoping he could be the steadying force in moments like this. Before the Libertadores showdown, the big obsession at La Bombonera, and after squandering two chances when ahead, he stood firm in the shootout, turning like a hero after last year’s round of 16 exit.
With Edinson Cavani starting, Boca found the opener when Barco delivered into a perfect position for Advíncula, who set up Merendiel. Yet joy was short-lived as Nacional answered with a sharp counterattack, and Trezza headed in the equalizer to level the score at La Bombonera.
Barco and Medina tied up the midfield play, and the match began to stall, with neither side finding a clean path to goal, save for a one-on-one chance Zabala could not convert. In the second half, Fabra finally forced a breakthrough by reaching the byline and laying a pass to Advíncula, who buried it with precision off his left foot.
Back in front, Cavani had a clear chance that narrowly missed, and Almirón chose to protect the lead as substitutions failed to swing the match, allowing Bolso to press and force a cross from the right that Romero misdirected to Colo Ramírez.
Late efforts proved futile, aside from Benedetto’s towering header hitting the bar. In the shootout, Chiquito Romero produced a game-saving display, saving shots from Ramírez and Bocanegra, while Boca converted four of five, with Pol Fernández missing. Colo Barco sealed the tie with a delicate finish that left the goalkeeper stranded.
Boca marches on with heart more than polish, finally dispelling the ghosts of the previous elimination and keeping pace with River. The next focus is the result of the Atlético Nacional versus Racing tie, with optimism intact.
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BOCA JUNIORS – NATIONAL, MINUTE BY MINUTE
- The minute-by-minute drama between the Xeneize and the Bag.
- NATIONAL TARGET! A dangerous cross deflected in by Romero as Colo Ramírez equalized.
- MOUTH TARGET! Fabra reached the byline and a central defender’s clearance fell to Advíncula for a left-footed finish.
- NATIONAL TARGET! Trezza anticipated Fabra, heading in the equalizer for Nacional.
- MOUTH TARGET! Early in the game, Advíncula found a teammate and Boca opened the scoring with a left-footed strike.
- With Cavani’s debut, the teams pressed forward on equal terms.
- Good evening and welcome to another GOAL broadcast. Boca Juniors faces Nacional in the second leg of the 2023 Copa Libertadores Round of 16 at the Bombonera Stadium.
THE TARGET EXAMPLE
HOW TO WATCH LIVE ON TV AND STREAMING
The Boca vs Nacional match is broadcast in Argentina and Chile on FOX Sports. In Colombia and Mexico it streams on ESPN. In Argentina there is also a mobile option, and in the United States the game is carried by BeIN Sports. Streaming options include Star+ in Mexico and South America, with additional free access in Argentina via Pluto TV and on the Pluto TV app.
FORMATIONS
MONO JUNIORS
Sergio Romero; Luis Advíncula, Nicolás Figal, Marcos Rojo and Frank Fabra; Cristian Medina, Pol Fernández, Alan Varela, Valentin Barco; Edinson Cavani, Miguel Merentiel. DT: Jorge Almirón.
NACIONAL
Salvador Ichazo; Leandro Lozano, Daniel Bocanegra, Diego Polenta, Gabriel Baez; Diego Rodríguez, Yonatan Rodríguez, Gonzalo Castro, Alfonso Trezza, Diego Zabala; Bruno Damiani. DT: Álvaro Gutiérrez.
Source: Goal