Lanús made history once again. On a hot afternoon at Defensores del Chaco in Asunción, after a 0-0 draw in the 120 regulation minutes, Granate won 5-4 on penalties against Atlético Mineiro with Nahuel Losada as the standout player and was crowned Copa Sudamericana champion for the second time.
In the opening minutes of the match, the nervousness of both teams due to the decisive stage being played out was evident on the field, preventing either side from creating any truly dangerous plays. However, the Brazilian team was the one that came closest to the area of the southern club.
In the 26th minute, the first major incident of the match occurred, when Lanús was saved from conceding a goal after a free kick from the left side of Losada's area taken by Bernard, whose powerful curling shot struck the far post of the Granate goalkeeper.
With few clear chances, the match went into halftime with a better-positioned Granate compared to what was seen at the start and a Galo that had lost control of the ball.
In the second half, the Brazilians regained the initiative, pressing Lanús much more into their own area and taking a few shots on goal, though without effectiveness and putting little pressure on Losada.
Only in the 70th minute did referee Piero Maza show the first yellow card of the match, after Izquierdoz held Hulk to stop an Atlético Mineiro attack. Minutes later, the tables turned, and it was Hulk who committed a hard foul on Izquierdoz, thus earning a booking.
In the 85th minute, Franco also received a yellow card for a foul on Castillo, but the player who suffered the most from the collision between the two was the Galo player, who was immediately substituted after being injured in that same play.
After just three minutes of added time, the 90 regulation minutes were completed, and Lanús and Atlético Mineiro could not break the deadlock, thus sending the match into extra time.
Extra time reflected what had happened throughout the match, with a Mineiro that controlled the play and a Lanús that held on as best it could and created the occasional isolated chance, although both teams were clearly diminished by fatigue and the heat. In the second half, the Brazilian team had a clear one-on-one opportunity at Scarpa's feet that Losada was able to save.
With nothing more to offer from either side in over 120 minutes of play, the grand finale would be decided by a penalty shootout, where the Argentine team would start shooting on its side of the stadium.
The penalties
- 1. Lanús: Everson saved a weak shot from Bou
- 1. Atlético Mineiro: Losada saved Hulk's powerful shot
- 2. Lanús: Izquierdoz scored Granate's first
- 2. Atlético Mineiro: Scarpa leveled the series
- 3. Lanús: Marcich made it a temporary 2-1
- 3. Atlético Mineiro: Gomes tied it 2-2
- 4. Lanús: Aquino put his team ahead again
- 4. Atlético Mineiro: Losada saved Teixeira's shot
- 5. Lanús: Acosta missed the fifth with a very high shot
- 5. Atlético Mineiro: Everson scored and sent the series to sudden death
- 6. Lanús: Cardozo made it 4-3
- 6. Atlético Mineiro: Alexsander tied the series
- 7. Lanús: Watson scored the 5-4
- 7. Atlético Mineiro: Losada saved Hugo's shot and Lanús is champion
After this frenetic finish, Lanús was able to celebrate as champion. With this title, and after 12 years of waiting and a lost final in between against Defensa y Justicia in 2020, Lanús claimed its second Copa Sudamericana. The first was in the 2013 edition under Guillermo Barros Schelotto. In addition, this new star marked its third international title (Copa CONMEBOL 1996 and Copa Sudamericana 2013 and 2025), and its qualification for the 2026 Copa Libertadores.
