LDU Quito Edge Past Palmeiras in Quarter-Final
LDU Quito secured a 1-0 victory over Palmeiras in the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores on 9 September 2026. Agustin Giay broke the deadlock in the 26th minute with a single shot on target, while the hosts kept their keeper busy throughout. We had backed Palmeiras to win, but the match took a different turn — LDU Quito cut them open at will in the moments that mattered.
Giay's goal came after a period of sustained pressure from both sides, though the visitors had more of the ball. Palmeiras registered seven shots on target and 13 off target, but could not find the net against a goalkeeper who made six saves. The hosts managed just one shot on target from four attempts inside the penalty area, and that was enough.
There were seven substitutions across the second half, with LDU Quito bringing on Lucas Rodriguez and Jesus Pretell together in the 61st minute. Palmeiras introduced Vitor Roque in the 79th minute as they pushed for an equaliser. Michael Estrada was replaced in the 85th minute after picking up a yellow card earlier in the game.
The statistics tell a familiar story: possession does not always translate into chances. Palmeiras held 60 per cent of the ball and completed 394 passes, while LDU Quito managed 239 from 311 attempts. The hosts had only one corner to Palmeiras's ten, yet they held the advantage when it counted.
Both teams collected yellow cards in a tight contest — four for the hosts and three for the visitors. Bruno Fuchs and Lucas Evangelista both went offside later in the game, but it was the hosts who remained composed. Palmeiras's three draws in their last four matches suggested a side that was not quite finding its rhythm.
LDU Quito move to the top of the competition with 12 points from six games, while Palmeiras sit second with 11. The hosts have already lost two matches, but this result keeps their campaign alive in the knockout stages. Palmeiras will need to regroup quickly — they were running out of games, and the margin for error has closed.