Santa Fe was eliminated from the 2025 Copa Libertadores Femenina in the first round.
Photo: Mauricio Alvarado Lozada
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The dream of Independiente Santa Fe, current continental runner-up, in the 2025 Copa Libertadores Femenina came to an end this Wednesday after losing 1-0 to Corinthians on the third date of Group A, at the Florencio Sola Stadium in Banfield, Argentina.
The Bogotá team needed to win to advance to the quarterfinals and seek revenge for the final lost last year in Luque (Paraguay) against the Brazilians, but the current champion once again won on the scoreboard and left them out of the competition.
The team led by Omar Rodríguez took on the challenge knowing that only a victory kept them alive. However, the power of the São Paulo team, which has been a reference in South American women's football in recent years, made the difference in a close match.
The opening of the scoring came early, in the 12th minute, when Andressa Alves took a corner kick towards the near post, where Gabi Zanotti appeared to connect the ball with her head and overcome the resistance of the Cardinal goalkeeper.
Santa Fe, despite having less of the ball, tried to react and as the minutes passed they took more of the initiative. In the 79th minute they were excited about a comeback that would keep them in the competition after Cristina Motta scored, but the goal was annulled.
This early elimination is a blow to the recent history of the capital club, accustomed to fighting in decisive instances at the international level in the women's branch. Proof of this are the two Libertadores finals that he has played.
The Libertadores of Santa Fe
The lionesses had made a promising start to the tournament. In their debut they beat Always Ready from Bolivia 7-0. However, on the second day they stumbled against Independiente del Valle, who beat them by the slightest difference and left them with no margin for error (1-0).
The setback against the Ecuadorians led to a difficult closing in the group stage for the current runners-up of the BetPlay Women's League. The cardinal players could not defeat Corinthians and completed their elimination in Banfield.
With figures such as Yaura Viso and María Nela Carvajal, who joined a squad that already had references such as Mariana Zamorano and Camila Reyes, Santa Fe had reinforced its squad to compete for the continental title.
However, the final balance was one victory and two defeats, with seven goals for and two against, numbers that reflect the team's irregular performance in a group stage that ended up being cruel in its outcome. Every so often I received too much weight.
The Colombian representation in the tournament is now in the hands of Deportivo Cali, which is seeking this Thursday to qualify for the quarterfinals against Universidad de Chile. The sugar companies lead Group D with four points and a tie is enough for them to be among the eight best on the continent.
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