The Panamanian player scored with cold blood in the 73rd minute to sign his second goal in the Copa Libertadores 2026, unleashing euphoria in Quito and momentarily placing Universidad Católica in a qualifying position (3-2). However, the celebration turned into concern: the 'canalero' striker fell awkwardly and suffered an injury, forcing his immediate exit from the field. The attacker signed a brace with Universidad Católica of Ecuador, but an injury after his second goal and the subsequent defeat on penalties against Juventud de Uruguay sealed a dramatic elimination at the Olímpico Atahualpa stadium. Panamanian brace that ignited Quito From the start, José Fajardo made it clear his protagonism in the Copa Libertadores series. The Panamanian striker José Fajardo lived a night as brilliant as it was painful in the Copa Libertadores 2026. In added time, Juventud equalized the series again (3-3) and took the definition to the Copa Libertadores penalty shootout, where the Uruguayans were more effective and secured their classification to the next stage. Brace, injury and silence in the Atahualpa Thus, the night was marked by José Fajardo's brace, his unfortunate injury and the bitter elimination of Universidad Católica, in one of the most intense matches of the Copa Libertadores 2026. With mobility, power and a goal-scoring instinct, he opened the scoring in the 6th minute with a precise shot that put Universidad Católica ahead and extended the global advantage obtained in Montevideo. The match became frantic. Juventud de Uruguay reacted, equalized and turned the result around before the break, while defender Jhon Chancellor returned the Ecuadorian hope with a header that kept the series alive. Goal, injury and silence in the Atahualpa When tension reached its peak, José Fajardo appeared again. The image of the Panamanian scorer leaving the field set off alarms both in his club and among Panamanian football fans. Elimination on penalties after a dramatic ending The script still held more tension.
