Boca out of the Libertadores: Agustín Marchesín, Leandro Brey, Fernando Gago and the controversial sequence of the goalkeeper change that did not work in the penalties

With the game coming to an end, amid Boca's chances with Milton Giménez 's head and Edinson Cavani's squandering in an unusual way, an unprecedented moment took place at La Bombonera , one not often seen around the world. Agustín Marchesin , the starting goalkeeper, made a sign to the bench to indicate to Fernando Gago 's coaching staff an unexpected tactical change: his exit to allow the entry of the youngster Leandro Brey , who was unable to save any of the five penalties in the shootout.

Just as Dutch coach Louis Van Gaal had done at the 2014 World Cup (he took off Jasper Cillessen to allow Tim Krul to come on in the penalty shoot-out in the quarter-finals against Costa Rica), the experienced Marche - who had a good game and made a key save in the first half - was brought on to make way for his teammate. Gago gave the green light and the surprising change took place.

The sequence deserves a separate paragraph: a few minutes before the end, Marchesin made a gesture to the bench, like crazy. Injury? No. The collaborators sent the message to Gago, who spoke briefly with his assistant Fabricio Coloccini and then he spoke to Cristian Muñoz, goalkeeping coach.

With Boca totally focused on attacking and trying to break the deadlock in this epilogue, Marche continued to signal for the change to be made. Finally, before the whistle of Chilean Piero Maza, the change was made. The Xeneize, so often allied, had no luck from the twelve steps on this occasion.

There will be a lot of talk from now on about the final result and the elimination . Was it a good gesture of collective commitment from Marchesin or should he have been selfish and stayed in the series? Was it right for Gago to give the green light to that and burden Brey with responsibilities on such a hot night?

"Everything we've been working on is studied and worked on. 'Leo' is more accustomed to the analysis that the boys make of where he can execute, where he can shoot. Let's not forget that 'Lea' saved 4 penalties (in the previous series), so he's a goalkeeper who has very good records saving penalties," said Gago at a press conference.

He added that the decision was made by mutual agreement with Marchesin, although it was resolved at the end.

"Agustín also made the decision that was discussed in order to be able to do it. Obviously, it could happen or not if he spent change beforehand. So, from that point on, it was very clear, it was a decision that was at some point discussed, but not taken. It was taken at the time," he concluded.

The rest was history: Alianza Lima will play Deportes Iquique for a place in the Copa Libertadores and the loser of the series will continue its path in the Copa Sudamericana.