October 30 – Ecuador’s LDU Quito triumphed on penalties 4-3 against Brazil’s Fortaleza to land the Copa Sudamericana for a second time after a 1-1 draw after extra time forced the shoot-out.
Goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez proved to be the LDU Quito hero with three saves in the penalty shoot-out. “In the tough moments it was my family who lifted me up. This is a great new achievement for me, for my country, my club,” said Dominguez. “Many people traveled for days by bus, by car. Now we will celebrate with them.”
Juan Lucero gave the Brazilian club the lead in the 48th minute, but Lisandro Alzugaray drew level six minutes later and in extra time there was nothing to separate both clubs.
Quito last won the competition in 2009 when they defeated Brazil’s Fluminense. It was the second year in a row that a club from Ecuador won South America’s second-tier club competition after Independiente del Valle defeated Sao Paulo in the final in 2022.
This season’s finale had been scheduled for the Centenario Stadium in the Uruguayan capital Montevideo, a regular venue for Conmebol’s club finale, but in a recognition that the Copa Sudamericana final is not always a big draw, the confederation shifted the final to the 20,000-seat Domingo Burgueño Miguel Stadium in the smaller Uruguayan city of Maldonado.
Often traveling for days, Brazilian fans were in the majority at the ground in the hope of watching history and their club’s first continental triumph. Fortaleza coach Juan Vojvoda, who hails from Argentina, said the club needed to cherish the moment, despite the defeat.
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