In a thrilling second-half comeback, Boca Juniors overturned a deficit to defeat Paraguay's Deportivo Recoleta 3-1 at Estadio Tomás Adolfo Ducó in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana round of 16. Goals from Santiago Ascacíbar, Milton Delgado, and Leonel Flores give the Xeneize a crucial advantage ahead of the return match in Asunción.

Boca Juniors Turn the Tide with Stunning Second-Half Performance

Date: August 10, 2026 | Estadio Tomás Adolfo Ducó | Copa Sudamericana (Round of 16, First Leg)

Boca Juniors, one of Argentina's most storied clubs, secured a vital victory in the first leg of their Copa Sudamericana round-of-16 tie against Paraguay's Deportivo Recoleta. The match, played at the Estadio Tomás Adolfo Ducó (home of Club Atlético Huracán, used by Boca due to ongoing renovations at La Bombonera), saw the Xeneize struggle in the opening 45 minutes but explode after the break. Coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena made key adjustments, and the team responded with three unanswered goals to take a commanding lead into the second leg.

The Goals That Changed Everything

Ascacíbar's Equalizer

A brilliant pass from Tomás Aranda found substitute Sebastián Villa, who then set up Santiago Ascacíbar inside the box. The midfielder made no mistake, scoring his fourth goal in as many matches to level the game at 1-1.

Delgado's First for the Club

Just two minutes later, Milton Delgado—who had earlier hit the crossbar twice—converted another Villa assist to put Boca ahead 2-1. It was the young midfielder's first goal in the Argentine Primera División.

Flores Seals It

Ten minutes after that, Leonel Flores unleashed a stunning strike from outside the area to make it 3-1, capping off a dominant spell and giving Boca a comfortable cushion.

A Dominant Finish with Two Men Advantage

Deportivo Recoleta were reduced to ten men just before halftime when Wilfrido Báez was sent off. Then, with 20 minutes remaining, Dairon Mosquera received a second yellow card, leaving the Paraguayan side with only nine players. Boca capitalized fully, controlling possession and creating chances at will. The final whistle brought relief and optimism to the Boca faithful, who had grown restless during a lackluster first half.

This result means Boca will travel to Asunción for the return leg with a two-goal advantage, a significant margin in South American knockout football. The team's ability to turn the match around showcases their resilience and depth, with Villa's impact off the bench proving decisive.

Match Details

CompetitionCopa Sudamericana (Round of 16, First Leg)
Date & TimeAugust 10, 2026, 19:00 local time
StadiumEstadio Tomás Adolfo Ducó (Buenos Aires)
RefereePiero Maza (Chile)
Assistant RefereesClaudio Urrutia and Juan Serrano (Chile)
Fourth OfficialJosé Cabero (Chile)
VARJuan Lara (Chile) | AVAR: Edson Cisternas (Chile)

Data sourced from TyC Sports and AFA official reports.