Alex Arce of Ecuador's Liga Deportiva Universitaria celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Recopa Sudamericana first leg final soccer match against Brazil's Fluminense at Rodrigo Paz Delgado stadium in Quito, Ecuador.
Ecuador’s Liga de Quito beat Brazil’s Fluminense 1-0 on Thursday in the first leg of the Recopa Sudamericana final. Alex Arce scored the only goal two minutes into injury time. The Ecuadorians won the the Copa Sudamericana in 2023, while the Brazilians secured their first-ever Copa Libertadores title. The second leg of the Recopa will take place next Thursday at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Arce’s goal was initially disallowed by the referee, but a video review decision showed he was not offside when he touched the ball to the left corner of veteran goalkeeper Fábio.
Alex Arce of Ecuador's Liga Deportiva Universitaria celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Recopa Sudamericana first leg final soccer match against Brazil's Fluminense at Rodrigo Paz Delgado stadium in Quito, Ecuador.
Lima of Brazil's Fluminense, center, reacts after missing an opportunity to score during the Recopa Sudamericana first leg final soccer match against Ecuador's Liga Deportiva Universitaria at Rodrigo Paz Delgado stadium in Quito, Ecuador.
Leonel Quinonez of Ecuador's Liga Deportiva Universitaria, front, and Martinelli of Brazil's Fluminense fall while fighting for a ball during the Recopa Sudamericana first leg final soccer match at Rodrigo Paz Delgado stadium in Quito, Ecuador.
Jose Quintero of Ecuador's Liga Deportiva Universitaria, left, and Jhon Arias of Brazil's Fluminense battle for the ball during the Recopa Sudamericana first leg final soccer match at Rodrigo Paz Delgado stadium in Quito, Ecuador.
Marlon Santos of Brazil's Fluminense eyes the ball as Alex Arce of Ecuador's Liga Deportiva Universitaria challenges him during the Recopa Sudamericana first leg final soccer match at Rodrigo Paz Delgado stadium in Quito, Ecuador.
Andre of Brazil's Fluminense, left, and Alex Arce of Ecuador's Liga Deportiva Universitaria battle for the ball during the Recopa Sudamericana first leg final soccer match at Rodrigo Paz Delgado stadium in Quito, Ecuador.
Andre of Brazil's Fluminense, left, and Gabriel Villamil of Ecuador's Liga Deportiva Universitaria battle for the ball during the Recopa Sudamericana first leg final soccer match at Rodrigo Paz Delgado stadium in Quito, Ecuador.
Marlon Santos of Brazil's Fluminense, right, and Jose Quintero of Ecuador's Liga Deportiva Universitaria battle for the ball during the Recopa Sudamericana first leg final soccer match at Rodrigo Paz Delgado stadium in Quito, Ecuador.
Andre of Brazil's Fluminense, right, falls while fighting for a ball with Oscar Zambrano of Ecuador's Liga Deportiva Universitaria, center, during the Recopa Sudamericana first leg final soccer match at Rodrigo Paz Delgado stadium in Quito, Ecuador.
Jhon Arias of Brazil's Fluminense escapes with he ball from Ricardo Ade of Ecuador's Liga Deportiva Universitaria during the Recopa Sudamericana first leg final soccer match at Rodrigo Paz Delgado stadium in Quito, Ecuador.