Boca Juniors had a bitter night at La Bombonera after being eliminated from the Copa Libertadores 2025 by Alianza Lima. The team, led by Gago, had managed to turn around the initial deficit and was one step away from qualifying, but an incredible miss by Edinson Cavani in the final minute changed the course of the match. Gago's reaction perfectly reflected the frustration of the entire club and its fans.

The Miss by Cavani That Decided the Match

In the 97th minute, a cross from the left found Cavani at the far post. With the goalkeeper beaten and the goal at his mercy, he failed to connect with the ball. The Uruguayan, with a career full of goals, couldn't hit the shot and let slip the opportunity that could have avoided penalties. Gago, who was already preparing to celebrate, went from ecstasy to disbelief in seconds. His reaction, putting his hands on his head and then falling onto the bench, was a clear reflection of the devastating blow of the elimination.

The Penalty Shootout and the Impact on Gago

In the penalty shootout, Cavani tried to redeem himself by converting his penalty with authority, but Alan Velasco's miss sealed Boca Juniors' fate. Gago, visibly affected, refrained from making explosive statements in the press conference, but his body language spoke for itself. The coach knows this result is a hard blow to the project he's leading, and the criticisms are bound to follow.

The result left Boca Juniors out of the group stage for the second consecutive year and plunged the team into an unexpected crisis. While Alianza Lima celebrated their historic qualification to the next round, the Xeneize will need to recover quickly to face the challenges ahead, including the domestic league and the Club World Cup in June. The pressure on Gago will increase in the coming days, and Cavani's miss will go down as one of the most remembered moments in the club's recent history.