In a stunning display of dominance, Liga de Quito (LDU) of Ecuador delivered a decisive 3-0 victory over Brazilian powerhouse Palmeiras in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores semifinal. The «White House» once again proved to be an impenetrable fortress for the Ecuadorian side, as they brought the high-flying Palmeiras crashing down to earth with a comprehensive performance.
Gabriel Villamil scored a brace, and Lisandro Alzugaray added a third goal, all in the first half, to give LDU a commanding lead heading into the second leg in São Paulo. This result not only showcases LDU’s ability to overcome the Brazilian giants but also solidifies their status as the «giant killers» of this year’s Libertadores competition.
Earlier in the tournament, LDU had already eliminated Botafogo, the 2024 champions, in the round of 16, and then steamrolled past São Paulo in the quarterfinals to reach the semifinals. Now, with this dominant victory over Palmeiras, who had the best overall campaign in the competition, LDU appears to have booked their ticket to the final, which is scheduled to take place on November 29 in Lima.
The only blemish on LDU’s otherwise brilliant triumph was the red card shown to Bryan Ramírez in the sixth minute of added time for excessive force. However, this setback is unlikely to dampen the spirits of the Ecuadorian side, who have proven their mettle against the Brazilian giants.
The second leg is set for Thursday, October 30, at 9:30 PM. While anything can happen in football, LDU seems to have put themselves in a commanding position to secure a spot in the coveted Libertadores final.
