2008 Copa Libertadores Final

The 2008 Copa Libertadores Final was a two-legged football match-up to determine the 2008 Copa Libertadores champions. The series was contested between Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito from Quito, Ecuador, and Fluminense Football Club from Rio de Janiero, Brazil, both of whom were playing in their first finals. The first leg was played at LDU Quito's home field, Estadio de Liga Deportiva Universitaria in Quito, Ecuador on June 25, 2008; the second leg was played at Fluminense's home field, Estádio do Maracanã in Rio de Janiero, Brazil on July 2, 2008. LDU Quito won the final on penalties 3-1 after a 5-5 aggregate at the end of extra-time.

Final rules

Like other match-ups in the knockout round, the teams with will play two games, one at each team's home stadium. As the highest seeded team determined at the beginning of the knockout stage, Fluminense was to have home-field advantage for the second leg. Unlike other Copa Libertadores match-ups in the knockout round, the away goals rule is not used. If the teams remained tied after 90 minutes of play during the 2nd leg, extra time will be used, followed by a penalty shootout if necessary.

Route to the finals

Group Stage

For the Group Stage, Fluminense and LDU Quito were drawn into Group 8 along with Arsenal of Argentina and Libertad of Paraguay. They finished 1 & 2, with 13 and 10 points, respectively. In the two matches between them, they tied 0-0 in Quito and Fluminense won 1-0 in Rio de Janiero.

Fluminense in the knockout stage

Fluminense was seeded 1 for the knockout stage, guaranteeing home field advantage for the second leg of any series. In the round of 16, they faced Atlético Nacional of Colombia, whom they defeated on aggregate 3-1 (2-1 & 1-0). In the quarter-finals, they faced fellow Brazilian side São Paulo. They won on aggregate 3-2 (0-1 & 3-1). In the semi-finals, they face defending Copa Libertadores champions Boca Juniors. After tying 2-2 on the first leg, the won 3-1 in the second leg to advance to their first Copa Libertadores finals.

LDU Quito in the knockout stage

LDU Quito was seeded 12 for the knockout stage. In the Round of 16, they faced Estudiantes, whom they beat on aggregate 3-2 (2-0 & 1-2) to advance. They faced another Argentine team, San Lorenzo in the quarter-finals. After tying 1-1 in both legs, the teams went into penalties, where LDU Quito triumphed 5-3. In the semi-finals, they faced Club América of Mexico. They tied both legs 1-1 in Mexico City and 0-0 in Quito. Since LDU Quito scored an away goal, they won the series and advanced to their first Copa Libertadores finals.

Final summary

First leg

The First Leg was played in front of a capacity crowd at Estadio de LDU in Quito. Claudio Bieler of LDU Quito scored first in the 2nd minute, but Fluminense answered back with a goal by Conca in the 12th minute. LDU Quito scored three unanswered goals by the end of the half with goals by Joffre Guerrón (29'), Jairo Campos (34'), and Patricio Urrutia (45'). Thiago Neves scored again for Fluminenese with the only goal of the second half at the 52nd minute. The final score left LDU Quito with a 2-goal advantage going into the next leg.

footballbox
date = 2008-06-25
time = 19:50
team1 = flagicon|ECU LDU Quito
score = 4 – 2
report = [http://www.conmebol.com/competiciones_evento_reporte.jsp?evento=1081&ano=2008&dv=6&flt=1&id=137&slangab=S (Report)]
team2 = Fluminense flagicon|BRA
goals1 = Bieler goal|2
Guerrón goal|29
Campos goal|34
Urrutia goal|45
goals2 = Conca goal|12
Thiago Neves goal|52
stadium = Estadio de LDU, Quito
attendance = 62,262
referee = Carlos Chandía (Chile)

|

Aftermath

Prior to the matches, Fluminense was favored to win since they had eliminated the defending champions (Boca Juniors) in the semi-finals, and defeated LDU Quito in an earlier encounter at Maracanã. Following the surprise lose in Quito, pressure was on Fluminense to win at home. When LDU Quito sealed the deal at Maracanã, the media dubbed the match a "Maracanazo", a slang term in Latin American soccer given to a game at Maracanã where the underdog team upsets the hosts.

LDU Quito had won their first Copa Libertadores title, becoming the first Ecuadorian team to do so. The title is also the first international title ever won by a team from Ecuador. LDU Quito captain Patricio Urrutia was named player of the finals, and Joffre Guerrón was named player of the tournament. By winning the tournament, LDU Quito won the right to represent South American in the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup, for which they qualify directly to the semi-finals. LDU Quito winning the Copa Libertadores was called historic by major newspapers that followed the competition, and won praise throughout the continent.

Throughout the tournament, the team and its player gained wide support from across Ecuador, not just by their typical fan-base in Quito. Following the win, they were publicly applauded by every sector of Ecuadorian society and government, and were treated as heroes upon their return to the country.

Currently, this year's finals hold or shares two Copa Libertadores Finals records: most goals in a single (6) for Game 1; most goals in two legs (10).

External links

* [http://www.conmebol.com/articulos_ver.jsp?id=62289&slangab=S CONMEBOL article about the first leg (in Spanish)]
* [http://www.conmebol.com/articulos_ver.jsp?id=62310&slangab=S CONMEBOL article about the second leg (in Spanish)]