Trio of Brazilian Fan Token® Clubs Reach Libertadores Quarter-Finals 

Three Brazilian clubs with official Fan Tokens® advanced from the last 16 after two nights of goals, tension and penalty drama. 

Brazilian football will have three Fan Token® clubs in the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals after Flamengo, Palmeiras and Fluminense all survived their last-16 ties.

Flamengo and Palmeiras secured narrow victories on Wednesday, following Fluminense’s dramatic penalty-shootout success in Mendoza the previous evening. 

Flamengo Advance as $MENGO Climbs

The market response was mixed, although the Flamengo Fan Token® ($MENGO) provided a positive footnote by climbing around 7.5% over 24 hours by Thursday morning. 

Flamengo continued their Libertadores title defence with a 2-1 victory over Cruzeiro at the Maracanã, completing a 3-2 aggregate win. 

The hosts dominated the opening half and were rewarded after 35 minutes. Giorgian de Arrascaeta exchanged passes with Pedro before sending a first-time finish across goal and into the top corner.

Cruzeiro responded shortly after half-time. Lucas Romero collected the ball outside the penalty area and fired past Agustín Rossi in the 51st minute, briefly restoring parity in the tie.

Flamengo needed only another 11 minutes to regain control. Pedro supplied his second assist of the night, finding Samuel Lino before the winger cut inside and finished past Otávio.

Gómez Delivers for Palmeiras 

Palmeiras advanced with a 1-0 victory over Cerro Porteño at a rain-soaked Nueva Olla in Paraguay, taking the tie 2-1 on aggregate. 

A tight contest was decided by Palmeiras captain Gustavo Gómez in the 41st minute. Jhon Arias won a corner before delivering the ball for Gómez to rise above the Cerro defence and head past Manuel Roffo.

Cerro pushed for an equaliser, but Palmeiras managed the second half effectively. Carlos Miguel protected the lead with a crucial stoppage-time save from Pablo Vegetti.

Gómez’s goal also extended an extraordinary individual record. The defender has now scored in nine consecutive Libertadores editions, with each of his 15 competition goals coming from a set piece.

Palmeiras will meet either LDU Quito or fellow Brazilian side Mirassol in the last eight.

Fábio Rescues Ten-Man Fluminense 

Fluminense endured the most dramatic qualification, beating Independiente Rivadavia 5-4 on penalties after the second leg finished 1-1. 

With the first leg having ended goalless, the tie remained level until Fluminense were reduced to ten men in the 57th minute. Agustín Canobbio received a second yellow card, leaving the visitors facing more than half an hour under pressure. 

Fluminense nevertheless struck first. Substitute Kevin Serna broke behind the defence in the 75th minute and finished a counterattack launched by Hércules. 

Alex Arce converted a stoppage-time penalty following a VAR-reviewed handball, forcing the shootout. Fluminense then found their decisive figure in 45-year-old goalkeeper Fábio, who saved two penalties before Guga converted the winning kick.

Fluminense will face Argentina’s Platense in the quarter-finals, leaving all three Brazilian Fan Token® clubs two rounds away from the Libertadores final.