Atletico Paranaense win Copa Sudamericana over Junior on penalties

Updated: May 17, 2023, 12:26 am

Atletico Paranaense defeated Atletico Junior 4-3 on penalties (2-2 aggregate) to win the 2018 CONMEBOL Copa Sudamericana on Wednesday night.

The win over the Colombian visitors in South America's second-most important club competition gives the Brazilian side their first ever continental triumph.

After a 1-1 stalemate at the conclusion of 90 minutes at Arena da Baixada, Junior had an opportunity to take the lead in the 111th minute, but Jarlan Barrera botched a penalty and sailed it into the stands. 

Brazilian club Atletico Paranaense won the 2018 Copa Sudamericana -- their first continental trophy -- on Wednesday over Colombian squad Junior.
AP Photo/Victor Caivano

Paranense opened the evening first in the 27th minute when Pablo Felipe took advantage of a breakdown in Junior's central defence to blast it past goalkeeper Sebastian Viera. 

Junior's equaliser came in the 58th minute when Teofilo Gutierrez headed in a second-chance ball off Jefferson Gomez's corner kick.

The first leg also had ended in a 1-1 draw at Junior's Metropolitano Roberto Melendez stadium last week.

Paranaense will take on Copa Libertadores winner River Plate of Argentina next year in the 2019 Recopa Sudamericana.