Partidazos: Copa Libertadores final 2008

LDU Quito celebrate with the Copa Libertadores Trophy.

The Copa Libertadores final of 2008 was expected to be a cake walk for the Brazilian team Fluminense against the Ecuadorian underdogs LDU Quito. In fact it turned out to be one of the closest finals ever with LDU winning on penalties in the Maracaná after a 5-5 draw on aggregate.

LDU won their home leg 4-2 and then travelled to the Maracaná where they took a 6th minute lead to make the score 5-2 on aggregate, Fluminense fought back with a hat-trick from their influential midfielder Thiago Neves.  The 2nd leg finished 3-1 but since away goals didn't count in the final, the game was decided in a dramatic penalty shootout with Grobbelaar style antics from LDU's veteran goalkeeper José Cevallos, and their charismatic Argentine manager Edgardo Bauza seemingly dispassionate, alone on the bench until the moment of victory.

The final broke all kinds of records; the first Ecuadorian team to win Copa Libertadores, the most goals over ever in the final (10) the most goals in 1 leg (6), first player to score a hat-trick in the final (Thiago Neves) and the first player to score 4 goals over two legs (Thiago Neves).

For more great games involving South American teams, check out the rest of the Partidazo series.