Atlético Mineiro held their nerve at the Arena MRV in Belo Horizonte to book a place in the 2025 Copa Sudamericana Round of 16, overcoming Atlético Bucaramanga in a dramatic penalty shootout (3-1) after a 1-1 aggregate draw.

The Colombian side stunned the home crowd late in the first half, with Jefferson Mena scoring a powerful header in the 45th minute, leveling the tie on aggregate and forcing a tense final 45 minutes. Mineiro couldn’t find the breakthrough in regulation, and the match ended 0-0 on the night, setting up a showdown from the spot.

The penalty shootout started on shaky ground for both teams, but goalkeeper Everson became the difference-maker—making crucial saves and even scoring the decisive penalty himself. Bucaramanga missed multiple key shots, falling short despite their fighting spirit and solid performance.

With the win, Atlético Mineiro becomes the only Brazilian club still alive in the Sudamericana playoffs, after the early exits of Vasco da Gama, Bahía, and Grêmio. Now, the Galo await their opponent in the Round of 16 as they continue their push for continental glory.