In a dramatic overtime battle, Fluzao crowned itself as America’s champion for the first time in its history, while the long-awaited seventh title for Boca Juniors remained just out of reach.
The Libertadores Cup crowned a new champion in Fluminense, who seized leadership of the continent for the first time by clinching a thrilling final. The match did not showcase peak football from either side, yet after a 1-1 draw in regulation, the Rio de Janeiro club delivered the decisive moment that etched its name into club history in front of thousands in their home region.
For Boca, the dream of a seventh title persisted but the quest ended in defeat after three finals since their last triumph in 2007. Their journey in this edition was unconventional, progressing through the knockout rounds on penalties in the round of 16, quarterfinals, and semifinals, but they could not exploit enough chances to tilt the balance, aside from the late minutes around Luis Advíncula’s goal in the second half.
From the opening minutes, Fluminense controlled the tempo as if the game were in their own stadium. They pressed tirelessly, suffocating Boca’s midfield and preventing clean service to the attackers. The visitors struggled to break through a crowded, organized defense, with midfielders Medina, Pol, and Barco unable to craft the necessary link-up play to unlock the defense.
Germán Cano stepped up when it mattered most for Fluminense, converting a chance after a quick interplay with Keno just before the break to put the Brazilian side ahead. Boca answered in the second period, leveling the score through a left-footed strike from a Peruvian winger that reflected their resilience. A late Merentiel opportunity could have shifted the outcome, but Barbosa missed a golden chance in the 92nd minute, keeping the score tied as regulation expired.
Even as fatigue set in, Fluminense showed clarity in the 100th minute. Keno delivered another assist, this time finding John Kennedy, whose shot past Romero proved decisive. The match continued with ten players after an earlier red card for a Boca scorer and a contentious challenge by Fabra that required refereeing attention, but the game retained an intensity that left little room for doubt about the winner. Boca pushed for an equalizer with aggressive frontline play and crosses, yet found themselves thwarted by solid defense and a stubborn goal frame, leaving the cup spectators with the enduring feeling that one more breakthrough could have rewritten the night’s narrative.
The Libertadores 2023 campaign had built to a cauldron-like finale in Rio de Janeiro, where the home crowd witnessed a match that underscored the tournament’s unpredictability. It was a contest defined by moments of individual brilliance, strategic discipline, and the unyielding pressure of two storied clubs trying to etch their names into the annals of South American football.
Minute by minute: Boca versus Fluminense, the climactic Libertadores final of 2023
The live summary and final lineups for Boca versus Fluminense, the 2023 Libertadores final: videos, formations, goals, and key moments
- Red card for Fabra! An intensely contested moment as the Boca captain was involved in a confrontation and sent off
- Fluminense strikes first through a powerful finish by Kennedy, elevated by a Keno spin to give Flu the lead in extra time
- Barbosa’s last-gasp strike narrowly misses, flying wide of the post in a telling moment of the finale
- Merentiel almost seals the title with a shot that narrowly misses the target
- Advíncula again tests the goalkeeper with a forceful left-foot drive to level the score at the Maracaná
- Fluminense penalty appeals were abundant, yet the referee did not call a foul requiring VAR intervention
- Keno orchestrated the right flank for Flu, culminating in Cano’s clinically finished goal to make it 1-0
- Valentini’s effort went high, with Roldán not intervening on the rough play that followed
- Merentiel tested the goalkeeper with a measured shot, finding him well positioned
- Felipe Melo emotionally engaged as the Brazilian national anthem played, signaling the moment’s gravity
- The Maracanã roared as fan chants and rhythm from Yerba Brava filled the stands
- Marcos Rojo missed the match due to suspension but supported his team as a spectator instead
- The stadium atmosphere intensified as Boca stepped onto the field amid the thunderous fans
- The final scene captured Boca’s pursuit of a seventh Libertadores title
- Fluminense fielded an eleven for the continental final, ready to challenge for glory
- Boca supporters showed their presence in the Maracaná, turning the gathering into a sea of color
- Fluzao aimed to make the home team feel at ease in Rio de Janeiro during the decisive moments
Citation: Goal