Cienciano defeats Botafogo 6-1 in Copa Sudamericana

Cienciano secured a historic 6-1 victory against Botafogo in the first leg of the 2026 Copa Sudamericana round of 16. The match, held at the Estadio Inca Garcilaso de la Vega in Cusco, saw Matías Succar lead the Peruvian side with a hat-trick, supported by goals from Neri Bandiera and Marcos Martinich. This result marks the largest margin of defeat suffered by a Brazilian club in a CONMEBOL-organized tournament.

Following the performance, Matías Succar has drawn significant attention regarding a potential call-up to the Peruvian national team. His brother, Alexander Succar, has publicly advocated for his inclusion in Mano Menezes' squad, citing his ability to perform against high-level opposition.

The second leg of the tie is scheduled for August 20, 2026, at the Estadio Olímpico Nilton Santos in Rio de Janeiro, where Botafogo will attempt to overturn the five-goal deficit.