O'Higgins' Historic Upset: The Goalkeeper Who Eliminated Brazilian Giants Bahía
Few results in the 2026 Copa Libertadores qualifying rounds were bigger than O'Higgins' penalty-shootout win over Bahía — a Chilean club eliminating a Brazilian top-flight side deep in enemy territory, thanks to a goalkeeper who turned into the hero of the tie.
A 2-2 Aggregate Set Up by a Narrow First Leg
O'Higgins won the first leg 1-0 at home in Rancagua. In the return leg at Bahía's Arena Fonte Nova, Willian José scored twice inside the first minute of action to put the hosts ahead, before Arnaldo Castillo's 54th-minute goal leveled the aggregate score at 2-2 and sent the tie to penalties.
Omar Carabalí, the Hero in Goal
Goalkeeper Omar Carabalí saved two penalties — from Dell and from Everton Ribeiro — to win O'Higgins the shootout 4-3 and send the Chilean side through to Qualification Round 3, where they would go on to face Deportes Tolima.