On a night full of emotions at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Córdoba, Boca Juniors eliminated Vélez Sarsfield 4-3 on penalties after a 0-0 draw in regular time, in the round of 16 of the 2026 Copa Argentina. With this victory, Rodolfo Arruabarrena's team advanced to the quarterfinals, where they will face Racing Club.
A balanced match and an epic shootout
The match, played on September 3, 2026, saw Boca dominate in stretches but fail to break the deadlock. The team created chances, but a lack of precision in the final third prevented them from scoring. Vélez, on the other hand, played tactically and made things difficult for the Xeneize.
The most controversial play came in the 90th minute, when goalkeeper Álvaro Montero committed a foul on Simón Escobar. However, the designated taker, Dilan Godoy, hit the post, keeping the score 0-0.
The penalty shootout and Montero's show
In the shootout, Boca showed composure and Montero became the hero. The goalkeeper, who arrived at Boca after a USD 4,000,000 transfer from Vélez, saved penalties from Elías Gómez and Thiago Silvero, and celebrated Godoy's miss (which hit the post) from open play. Boca's takers Zenón and Palacios converted their penalties, while Enner Valencia failed his.
The controversy: Did Montero move too early?
One of the most debated points was Montero's save against Thiago Silvero. Some images suggest the goalkeeper moved forward before the shot, which could have been an infraction under Law 14 (which regulates goalkeeper behavior during penalties, specifically foot positioning). However, the referee did not sanction the play, and the result stood.
Arruabarrena's statements
Boca's coach, Rodolfo Arruabarrena, was satisfied with the qualification but acknowledged the difficulties: “We deserved a bit more. The opponent is well organized.” Regarding Godoy's missed penalty, he said: “An isolated play from going for it. We had that bit of luck.”
Arruabarrena praised Montero: “In those moments he grows even more than he already is.” He also clarified the early replacement of Leandro Paredes: “He came off due to a warning, nothing serious. He had a lot of energy.”
About Alan Velasco, who was key in attack, he said: “He played a great match, he's been criticized but that will change.” Finally, he hinted that “September is going to be busy,” referring to the packed schedule ahead.
TyC Sports player ratings
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Álvaro Montero | 9 |
| Leandro Lozano | 5.5 |
| Lautaro Di Lollo | 5 |
| Facundo Herrera | 7 |
| Lautaro Blanco | 7 |
| Santiago Ascacíbar | 6 |
| Leandro Paredes | 6 |
| Tomás Belmonte | 5 (missed a clear chance) |
| Alan Velasco | 6.5 |
| Miguel Merentiel | 4 |
| Sebastián Villa | 5.5 |
| Enner Valencia | 3 (missed his penalty) |
| Leonel Flores | 6 |
| Zenón | N/A (scored his penalty) |
| Palacios | N/A (scored his penalty) |
| Rodolfo Arruabarrena (Coach) | 6 |
What's next for Boca
After the win, Boca will focus on their upcoming challenges: the match against Gimnasia (Mendoza) in the Torneo Clausura, then the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana quarterfinals against São Paulo, followed by Central Córdoba (SdE), and then the return leg against the Brazilian side. The squad is confident after this advancement.
Source: TyC Sports and Olé.