Álvaro Montero Shines in Shootout as Vélez Win Sends Boca Into Another Quarterfinal

Álvaro Montero looked destined to become Boca’s villain after conceding a penalty late against Vélez. Instead, the post spared him, and the Colombian goalkeeper became the hero by saving two attempts in the shootout. Boca won 4-3 and advanced to the Copa Argentina quarterfinals.

Boca supporters had watched Montero hesitate in his first matches and had not fully trusted the signing. They are not getting carried away yet, but his confidence is beginning to settle. In only 12 games, he has already helped Boca reach a second knockout victory through penalties.

That particular strength has revived memories of Óscar Córdoba, the Colombian goalkeeper and club idol who excelled in shootouts during the early 2000s. Boca is also recalling later penalty heroes such as Roberto Abbondanzieri, Agustín Rossi and Sergio Romero, although Montero stands taller than all of them at 2.01 meters.

His start had been difficult. Three days after debuting against O’Higgins in the Copa Sudamericana, Montero conceded three goals against Deportivo Riestra in Bajo Flores, in a historic defeat for Boca. Responsibility for that loss was spread across a series of defensive lapses, but the goalkeeper still faced weeks of suspicion.

The return match against O’Higgins offered his first major shootout test. Saving the fourth penalty secured Boca’s place in the last 16, but that achievement quickly faded from view. Uncertain decisions when coming for crosses and awkward movements in goal brought murmurs from the stands at the Tomás Adolfo Ducó stadium, where Boca played three matches. Against Vélez, however, his height and saves gave the team another decisive night from the spot.