The mighty Boca Juniors were made to suffer last night in Paraguay by Deportivo Capiatá, a side only founded in 2008, as it took a late Jonathan Calleri goal to force the tie to penalties and then Agustín Orión to save three spot kicks to ensure a place in the Quarter Finals. A tie against Cerro Porteño awaits ahead of a potential superclásico Semi Final against River Plate.

It wasn’t quite the catastrophe that Mariano Echeverria had suggested if Boca lost the tie but it was as close as it could be. Losing 1-0 in La Bombonera last week was an embarrassment but it would have been unthinkable to crash out in the last 16.

Despite dominating the match, as they did one week ago, Boca were unable to find a way through. Just as thoughts of a major shock were looking like they could become a reality, Boca found the crucial breakthrough. Yet another ball into the penalty area eventually created an opening and this time, in the 72nd minute, Jonathan Calleri smashed in the loose ball from close range.

Penalties were needed to separate the sides and although Boca gave Capiatá opportunities, at the crucial moments they too saw their spotkicks missed. Eventually it came to sudden death and Boca keeper, Agustín Orión smashed in his effort and then saved Arturo Aquino’s effort to prompt celebrations more of relief than anything else.

The Copa Sudamericana offers Boca a chance at Libertadores qualification and so they will be watching how Estudiantes fare against River Plate. Oddly, River might be able to do their old rivals a favour by eliminating Estudiantes. Boca themselves must get past a Quarter Final against Cerro Porteño before setting up a mouthwatering superclásico in the Semi Final.

Deportivo Capiatá  0 – 1  Boca Juniors (Boca won 4-3 on penalties)