Botafogo scored a goal at the 14-second mark following a midfield interception, with the thief of the ball shouting in triumph, solidifying their lead in the Libertadores.
In a thrilling turn of events, Botafogo's Artur scored one of the fastest goals in the history of the Copa Libertadores during their match against Liga de Quito. The goal, scored in the 14th second of the game, ranks sixth overall and third among Brazilian teams.
The goal came after an attack initiated by Artur himself, who recovered the ball at the kick-off. He then set up a cross from the left, leading to the goal. The match took place at the Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos in Rio de Janeiro.
Artur's quick strike earned him a place among an exclusive group of footballers who have scored iconic fast goals in the Copa Libertadores. His achievement is particularly noteworthy given that the top fastest goals in the competition's history are under 14 seconds.
While the exact times and details for the fastest five goals are not fully detailed in the current sources, it is known that the absolute record for the fastest goal was set by Felix Suarez in 1976, who scored in just 6 seconds for Alianza Lima against Independiente Santa Fe. Other quick goals include Alfredo Mendoza's 7-second strike for Newell's against Colo Colo in 1992 and Pedro Sarabia's 13-second goal for Barcelona de Guayaquil against Cerro Porteño in 1996.
Despite Artur's early goal, Liga de Quito dominated the possession and proposed more attacks. However, Botafogo's defense held strong, resulting in a 1-0 victory for the reigning Copa Libertadores champion.
Meanwhile, Juanfer Quintero was on the bench for River Plate's visit to Libertad in Paraguay for the first leg of the Copa Libertadores round of 16. The match ended in a goalless draw.
In another notable event, Victor Ismael Sosa scored in 16 seconds for Pumas de México against Emelec in 2016, a feat that places him among the fastest goal scorers in the competition's history.
Cruzeiro also benefited from a quick goal against Bolívar Gómez in 2001, scored in 7 seconds by an unnamed player. Deportivo Táchira's Carlos Maldonado holds the record for the second-fastest goal, having scored in 10 seconds in 1989.
Liga de Quito will seek to turn the series around in front of their fans in a week, as the Copa Libertadores round of 16 continues. The second leg between Botafogo and Liga de Quito promises to be an exciting encounter, with both teams eager to secure a spot in the quarter-finals.
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Artur's goal, scored in the historic 14th second, also places him among the elite footballers in sports-analysis discussions for fastest goals in the Copa Libertadores, joining the ranks of Felix Suarez, Alfredo Mendoza, Pedro Sarabia, and Victor Ismael Sosa. Sports reports further highlight that Deportivo Táchira's Carlos Maldonado holds the record for the second-fastest goal, scored in 10 seconds.
