MONTEVIDEO, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's Botafogo secured a berth in their first Copa Libertadores final despite suffering a 3-1 away loss to Uruguayan side Penarol on Wednesday.
The Rio de Janeiro outfit won the semifinal clash 6-3 on aggregate following a 5-0 victory in last week's first leg.
Botafogo will meet Brazilian rivals Atletico Mineiro in the final at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on November 30. It will be the fourth all-Brazilian Copa Libertadores final in the past five years.
Penarol took the initiative from the outset at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, capitalizing on Botafogo's low defensive line and an almost complete disinterest in venturing beyond the halfway line.
The hosts took a 1-0 lead on the night just after the half-hour as Jaime Baez sent a 30-yard rocket into the top-right corner.
Penarol were reduced to 10 men on the stroke of halftime when Washington Aguerre was shown a straight red card for violent conduct.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Penarol continued to attack relentlessly and they doubled their lead just after the hour through another long-range effort from Baez.
Botafogo defender Mateo Ponte, who substituted Vitinho in the 58th minute, spent just 11 minutes on the pitch before he was sent off for two yellow cards in little over 30 seconds.
Argentina international midfielder Thiago Almada gave the visitors some breathing space with a well-worked team goal two minutes from time, before Facundo Batista reduced the deficit again by latching onto Rodrigo Perez's pass to poke home another goal a minute from time. ■
