Botafogo beat Independiente Petrolero 3-0 on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Estadio Tigo La Huerta in Asuncion, Paraguay, in Round 5 of Copa Sudamericana Group E. Cristian Medina, Barrera and an Eduardo own goal scored for the Brazilian side.
The score was comfortable, but it could have been much heavier. The match had the feel of a Brazilian “pelada de churrasco”: the loose, one-way kickabout that breaks out around a weekend barbecue, except one side was Botafogo and the other side spent the night surviving. Botafogo finished with 42 shots, 20 of them on target, while Petrolero barely threatened Neto’s goal. Goalkeeper Gutierrez was the main reason the margin did not get out of hand.
Against my team, every goalkeeper turns into Neuer
It was the familiar football-supporter meme: every opposing goalkeeper turns into Neuer against my team. This time, even Gutierrez’s inspired night was not enough to hold Botafogo back. The Bolivian keeper stacked up saves, faced shots from every angle and still conceded three times.
Given the number of chances, 3-0 was kind to Independiente Petrolero. Botafogo created enough volume for a double-digit scoreline, and the feeling at full time was straightforward: if their goalkeeper had not decided to channel Neuer, it could have been 10-0.
Botafogo dominate and eventually break through
Botafogo opened the scoring in the 23rd minute of the first half. Arthur Cabral and Lucas Villalba combined near the edge of the area, and the ball fell to Medina, who rounded Gutierrez before finishing.
The second goal took time despite Botafogo’s control. Gutierrez made several saves, including stops from Arthur Cabral and Kauan Toledo early in the second half.
Late goals seal the result
The pressure turned into a wider scoreline only late on. In the 36th minute of the second half, Barrera, who had just come on, took advantage of a loose ball after a Joaquin Correa attempt and scored Botafogo’s second.
Five minutes later, Correa drove down the left and shot from a tight angle. The ball deflected off Eduardo and went in to close the 3-0 win.
Group situation
With the result, Botafogo moved to 13 points and stayed alone at the top of Group E. Independiente Petrolero remain bottom and are still without a point.
Botafogo’s next Copa Sudamericana match is away to Caracas on May 27. Before that, the team visit Sao Paulo on Saturday, May 23, in Round 17 of the Brazilian Serie A season.