Santa Fe’s Epic Victory Over Olimpia Secures Third Place

Independiente Santa Fe clinched third place in the 2026 Women’s Libertadores. On Saturday, Oct 31, they edged Olimpia of Paraguay 4‑3 in a thrilling finale. Can you imagine such drama?

With epic spirit, the lionesses roared and earned applause across South America. They surged ahead 2‑0, slipped to 3‑2, then surged again to seal a 4‑3 win.

In my view, Santa Fe hoisted Colombia’s flag high. Though the squad had dreamed of a final, the semifinal loss to Corinthians didn’t stop them from confronting Olimpia head‑on.

Santa Fe: from leading to trailing, then crafting an epic comeback. Will this momentum carry them further next season?

The clock read 25 minutes in the first half and Santa Fe led 2‑0 over Olimpia thanks to a double from Mariana Zamorano. Red fever ran high, yet the visitors still had a trick up their sleeve.

In those 25 minutes Olimpia launched an attack Santa Fe couldn’t halt. Paraguay’s side struck via Tatiana Riso, and around the 40′, Ana Pereira forced a 2‑2 tie before halftime.

The second half began poorly for Santa Fe, hinting at a possible embarrassment in Quito, Ecuador, where the tournament sits. At 49 minutes, Olimpia turned the lead to 3‑2 after Luján Ortiz found the net.

Minutes ticked by with both sides pressing, yet neither could finish. Santa Fe struggled to answer the surge Olimpia had unleashed.

Approaching the 90th minute, in the gods’ moment, Santa Fe turned to its trademark heroics, both men’s and women’s. Daniela Garavito smashed a violent strike to level 3‑3, reviving the lionesses.

The icing on the cake arrived three minutes later (90+3′) when Juana Ortegón sealed the scoreline with a strike that echoed from Quito to Bogotá. The 4‑3 finish handed Santa Fe the third spot in the Copa Libertadores Femenina.