Santos vs Peñarol fight after the 2011 Copa Libertadores final

On 22 June 2011 Brazilian side Santos won their first Copa Libertadores title since they won the tournament back-to-back in 1962 and 1963 with a 2-1 win against Peñarol of Uruguay in the second leg of the 2011 final. The Santos team should have been celebrating wildly at the final whistle but instead their players, coaching staff and a number of pitch invading fans got involved in a mass brawl with the Peñarol players.

For more crazy South American football check out the rest of the Cosas locas series.

2011 Copa Libertadores final

Overview

The Copa Libertadores final in 2011 featured two of the famous names from the early years of the competition. Brazilian side Santos won the Libertadores in 1962 and 1963 and Peñarol from Uruguay won the competition five times between 1960 and 1987 making them the third most successful side in the history of the competition despite the fact that 2011 is the first time they have even passed the quarter-final stage since they last won the competition 24 years previously.

Results

15-06-11
Peñarol	0-0	Santos
22-06-11
Santos	2-1	Peñarol
Winner: Santos

After a 0-0 draw in the first leg the Copa Libertadores final went down to the final game at the Estádio do Pacaembu in São Paulo, making the Brazilian side strong favourites to win the title given the fact that Peñarol had not won any of their four previous games. Brazilian teenage sensation Neymar scored the first goal of the final two minutes into the second half and Danilo extended the lead in the 69th minute. Peñarol pulled a goal back with ten minutes left through a Dorival goal however they couldn't prevent the Santos from winning their third Copa Libertadores title and their first since they won the tournament back-to-back in 1962 & 1963. The celebrations were spoiled after a mass brawl where the Peñarol players faced up to the Santos players, coaching staff and a number of Santos fans who had invaded the pitch.

For more South American football highlights, including the Argentine & Brazilian leagues, the pick of the rest and other international tournaments:

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Santiago Silva penalty miss Peñarol Libertadores

On 2 June 2011 Vélez Sársfield hosted Peñarol in the semi-finals of the 2011 Copa Libertadores. The visitors were 1-0 up from the first leg and scored early in the game meaning that Vélez needed three goals to win the tie. Fernando Tobio and Santiago Silva scored a couple of goals to get them back into the game and in the 75th minute Silva had the opportunity to get the vital 3rd goal from the penalty spot but somehow managed to spoon in over the bar. Peñarol managed to survive the remainder of the match and went through to the final on the away goals rule.

Copa Libertadores semi-finals

Overview

The semi-final line-ups for the 2011 Copa Libertadores are intriguing. The Brazilian side Santos inspired by teenage sensation Neymar are the only ones of the four to have played in a Libertadores semi-final since the turn of the millenium. Their opponents Cerro Porteño are the only ones never to have won the tournament before having been eliminated in each of their five previous Libertadores semis. Cerro's domestic form has been dismal, they are in the bottom half of the table having only won 1 of their previous 12 league games however their Libertadores form has been great having eliminated the tournament's most entertaining team Colo-Colo in the group stages, then Argentine champions Estudiantes and the Mexican side Jaguares in the knocknock-outges.

The other two semi-finalists are both making their first appearances at this stage since they last won it. Uruguayan side Peñarol last played a Libertadores semi-final back in 1987 when they beat the Argentine sides River Plate and Independiente in a semi-final group stage before famously inflicting the third consecutive Libertadores final defeat on América de Cali (the Jimmy White's of South American football) to win their fifth title. Vélez won their only previous Libertadores semi-final on their way to claim the 1994 championship.

Results

25-05-11
Santos	1-0	Cerro Porteño
01-06-11
Cerro Porteño	3-3	Santos
Winner: Santos

Santos won their home leg 1-0 after a typical bit of class from Neymar to set up Edu Dracena with a virtually unmissable chance. Cerro were not too disappointed with a narrow defeat in Brazil and fancied their chances in the second leg however they suffered their sixth Copa Libertadores semi-final elimination after a 3-3 draw. Cerro gave themselves a mountain to climb after conceding two goals in the opening half hour. Cesár Benítez pulled one back but Neymar re-established the three goal aggregate lead for Santos with a goal in first half stoppage time. Cerro fought back in the second half with goals from Juan Manuel Lucero and Jonathan Fabbro but it was not enough to prevent Santos reaching their first Copa Libertadores final since 2003.

26-05-11
Peñarol	1-0	Vélez Sársfield
02-06-11
Vélez Sársfield	2-1	Peñarol
Winner: Peñarol

Darío Rodríguez scored the only goal of the game to give Peñarol a 1-0 win against Vélez Sársfield in the first leg of their semi-final. Vélez won the second leg 2-1 but the Uruguayans went through courtesy of the away goals rule however things could have been different had Santiago Silva not spooned his penalty over the bar with 15 minutes to go.

Maxi Moralez golazo vs Libertad, Copa Libertadores 2011

On 18 May 2011 Argentine league leaders Vélez Sársfield travelled to Paragauy to play Libertad in the quarter-finals of Copa Libertadores 2011. The Argentine side were defending a comfortable 3-0 lead from the first leg but Libertad were determined to make a good game of, taking the lead twice only to see Maxi Moralez equalise both goals. His second equaliser came about after this wonderful team move. Vélez bagged a couple more goals late in the game for a 2-4 win on the night and an impressive 7-2 aggregate victory.

Part of the Golazo series.

2011 Copa Libertadores cuartos (Quarter-finals)

Overview

After enduring a lot of crowing from Brazilians and Brazilian football supporters about the fact that five of their teams had progressed to the last 16 while no more than 2 from any other country had made it, it was a delight to see 4 of their teams eliminated on Brazilian Black Wednesday.

After Argentina, Colombia and Mexico also lost one representative each the quarter final set up became one of the most diverse in the history of international club football with the eight participants coming from seven different countries. The only country to provide two representatives was surprisingly Paraguay after Cerro Porteño eliminated Estudiantes on Penalties and Libertad pulled of a brilliant comeback against Fluminense.

Cerro's reward wasa tie against Jaguares of Mexico and Libertad ended up with possibly the toughest draw of all; a game against Vélez Sársfield who are in a brilliant run of form and sit at the top of the Argentine Primerá.

Santos were the only remaining Brazilian side and they faced a tough test against Colombian champions and 2004 winners Once Caldas who surpisingly eliminated Cruzeiro (who were undoubtedly the best team in the group stages) on their own pitch.

The last quarter final pitched two more teams that eliminated Brazilian sides in the last 16. Chilean champions Universidad Cátolica and five time Copa Libertadores champions Peñarol of Uruguay.

Results

12-05-11
Vélez Sársfield	3-0	Libertad
18-05-11
Libertad	2-4	Vélez Sársfield
Winner: Vélez Sársfield

Vélez Sársfield won the first leg 3-0, Maxi Moralez scored the first goal and then Libertad goalkeeper Tobiás Vargas gifted Juan Manuel Martínez a couple of goals, the first by giving away a needless penalty and the second by letting the shot squirm under his body into the net.

Vélez secured their progression to the semi-finals with an impressive 2-4 away win in the return leg. Libertad made a decent game of it but Maxi Moralez scored equalisers each time the home side put themselves ahead in the tie. The second Vélez equaliser was a brilliantly crafted team goal. Late in the game Guillermo Franco and Augusto Fernández bagged another couple of goals to give the Argentines a famous 7-2 aggregate win.

11-05-11
Once Caldas	0-1	Santos
18-05-11
Santos	1-1	Once Caldas
Winner: Santos

Alan Patrick scored the only goal of the game to give Santos a valuable away win against Once Caldas in the first leg. Neymar scored early in the second leg two give the Brazilians a two goal advantage but Wason Rentería equalised after 30 minutes. Santos managed to hold on to their slender advantage for the rest of the game when a single Once Caldas away goal would have been enough to send the Colombians through instead.

11-05-11
Peñarol	2-0	Universidad Cátolica
19-05-11
Universidad Cátolica	2-1	Peñarol
Winner: Peñarol

Two terrible handling errors from UC goalkeeper Paulo Garces gifted Peñarol a 2-0 advantage in the first leg but Universidad Cátolica were left with some hope as they would have home advantage in the second leg and have shown that they have the firepower to score planty of goals against very strong opposition on their day.

The second leg was a fantastic game. Universidad Cátolica scored twice to cancel out Peñarol's two goal lead from the first leg, Fernando Meneses opened the scoring after some good holdup play and an exceptional pass from Argentine forward Lucas Pratto and Roberto Gutíerrez scored the second with a decent turn and a cracking long range strike. The game looked to be heading for a penalty shootout until Fabián Estoyanoff snuck in at the back post to tap in the decisive goal in the 85th minute to ensure Penñarol's first appearance in the Copa Libertadores semi-finals since they last won the tournament back in 1987.

12-05-11
Jaguares	1-1	Cerro Porteño
19-05-11
Cerro Porteño	1-0	Jaguares
Winner: Cerro Porteño

Cerro Porteño came away from their trip to Mexico with a useful 1-1 draw. Argentine midfielder Jonathan Fabbro put the visitors a goal ahead after 73 minutes but Michael Pedroza headed a potentially vital equaliser for Jaguares in injury time.

In the second leg Cerro Porteño bagged a 1-0 win to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1999 thanks to a 70th minute goal from Pedro Benítez who took advantage of some shambolic defending from Jaguares to head the decisive goal of the tie.

2011 Copa Libertadores octavos (last 16)

Overview

The best represented nation at the beginning of the knockout stages of Copa Libertadores 2011 are the Brazilians after all five of their teams successfully navigated the group stages. Cruzeiro were the standout Brazilians, romping home in group seven and twice humiliating Argentine group runners up Estudiantes. Internacional and Grêmio made it through without much difficulty. Santos crept through ahead of a highly entertaining Colo-Colo side in group five. Fluminense were incredibly lucky to make it through on goal difference after a highly debatable penalty in the dying minutes of their clash against Argentinos Juniors in group 5.

Four nations provide two teams in the knockout stages. Argentina lost three of their representatives in the group stages the remaining two were undoubtedly the best teams in Argentina at the end of 2010. Estudiantes crept through seven behind Cruzeiro and are trapped in a dismal run of form. Vélez Sársfield have recovered from some early season jitters to take up leadership of the Argentine Primera División and progress to the knockout stages of Copa Libertadores.

Mexico's two representatives are Club América who were winners of the tough group five and Jaguares who finished as runners up behind reigning champions Internacional in group six.

Both of the Colombian representatives in the knockout stages are suffering poor domestic form. Once Caldas had been runaway leaders of the Primera but a run of five games without a win has seen them drop off the pace. Junior have been stuck in the bottom half of Primera A since the beginning of the season and have only recorded four wins in thirteen domestic games in 2011.

Paraguay also have two representatives, Cerro Porteño put aside their poor domestic form with a dramatic 2-3 win against Colo-Colo in group five to secure their place in the last sixteen. Libertad cruized through group one becoming the first team to secure their place in the knockout stages.

Three other nations have a single representative in the last sixteen. Reigning Chilean champions Universidad Cátolica are looking good, they won group four ahead of Vélez Sársfield and also have a decent lead at the top of the Chilean Apertura. The other two sides both came through group eight at the expense of two Argentine sides. 2008 champions Liga de Quito of Ecuador won the group and Peñarol of Uruguay were runners up.

Results

27-04-11
Santos	1-0	Club América
03-05-11
Club América	0-0	Santos
Winner: Santos

Ganso scored the only goal of the game to give Santos a 1-0 home win against Club América and to secure progression to the quarter-finals after a 0-0 draw in the return fixture in Mexico leaving Santos as the only Brazilian representatives left in the competition after the other four Brazilian sides were all knocked out the following day

27-04-11
Once Caldas	1-2	Cruzeiro
04-05-11
Cruzeiro	0-2	Once Caldas
Winner: Once Caldas

Cruzeiro continued their impresive Copa Libertadores form with a good 1-2 away win against Colombian champions Once Caldas. The result seems better than it was though because Once had been stuck in a terrible run of form, their only win in their seven previous games was their 0-2 win against USM, their only win to date in Copa Libertadores 2011. Wallyson and Juan Ortigoza put Cruzeiro two goals ahead before Luis Núñez pulled one back for the hosts in the last minute to give them the faintest of hopes in the return match, however Cruzeiro have scored an incredible 15 goals in their three home games so far in Copa Libertadores 2011.

The Colombians pulled off the biggest shock of the Copa Libertadores so far with an unlikely 2-0 win in Brazil to earn their place in the quarter finals at the expense of the team with the best attacking record in the competition. Two goals within four second half minutes were enough to give Once the victory, Diego Amaya headed the scoring on 67 minutes from a corner kick and club legend Dayro Moreno hit the decisive goal four minutes later.

28-04-11
Peñarol	1-1	Internacional
05-05-11
Internacional	1-2	Peñarol
Winner: Peñarol

Matías Corujo scored the opening goal for Peñarol against holders Internacional with a spectacular shot however Leandro Damião equalised for the Brazilians in the second half with a long range shot.

Peñarol pulled off a major shock in the return leg knocking the defending champions out with a shock 1-2 win. Things seemed to be going to plan for Internacional after Oscar put them one goal ahead after only a minute of play but Peñarol took control of the game with two early goals in the sacond half. Alejandro Martinuccio equalised after only 15 seconds of second half play and Juan Manuel Olivera headed the winning goal four minutes later.

26-04-11
Grêmio	1-2	Universidad Cátolica
03-05-11
Universidad Cátolica	1-0	Grêmio
Winner:  Universidad Cátolica

In the first game of the knockout stages Chilean side Universidad Cátolica recorded a shock 1-2 away win against Grêmio of Brazil. Lucas Pratto scored both of the goals for the visitors either side of a cracking long range strike from Douglas.

Universidad Cátolica secured their place in the quarter finals with a 1-0 win in the second leg, Milovan Mirosevic scored the only goal of the game in the 87th minute to give them an emphatic aggregate win.

28-04-11
Fluminense	3-1	Libertad
04-05-11
Libertad	3-0	Fluminense
Winner: Libertad

Considering the ease with which Libertad qualified and Fluminense's reliance on a desperate last minute penalty decision to make it through to the knockout stages it is a bit of a surprise that Flu established a healthy two goal advantage in the first leg, establishing a 3-1 lead against their Paraguayan visitors. Rafael Moura and Rodolfo Gamarra scored a header each to make the score 1-1 before Fluminense scored a couple of blistering long range goals through Marquinho and Darío Conca late in the game.

Libertad secured one of the great Libertadores comebacks in the second leg, with only a few minutes remaining they had only scored once and looked down and out but Miguel Angel Samudio scored in the 86th minute with a cracking half volley to give the Paragauyans the advantage on away goals. José Núñez bagged a third goal for the hosts in injury time to bury the Brazilians and finish off one of the blackest days in the history of Brazilian club football in whick four of their teams were eliminated at the hands of teams from "lesser" south American nations.

26-04-11
Vélez Sársfield	3-0	Liga de Quito
04-05-11
Liga de Quito	0-2	Vélez Sársfield
Winner: Vélez Sársfield

At first glance a 3-0 win for Vélez Sársfield against Liga de Quito looks like a brilliant result however, the fact that they failed to score a few more goals to completely finish off the tie in the last 20 minutes when they were playing against only nine men means that Liga are not completely dead and buried given their formidable home form in international competitions. Augusto Fernández scored two early goals for the Argentinians and Sebastián Domínguez headed the third goal one minute after Luis Bolaños was sent off for the visitors. Neicer Reasco was also sent off for the Ecuadorians after 69 minutes but Vélez could not makle use of their twenty minute two man advantage.

27-04-11
Jaguares	1-1	Junior
05-05-11
Junior	3-3	Jaguares
Winner: Jaguares

Junior scored themselves a vital away goal passing their way through the Jaguares defence for Luis Paéz to score after only seven minutes but Jaguares got themselves back into the game with an unmarked header from their Colombian forward Jackson Martínez in the second half to secure a 1-1 draw.

27-04-11
Estudiantes	0-0	Cerro Porteño
05-05-11
Cerro Porteño	0-0	Estudiantes
Winner: Cerro Porteño (5-3 on penalties)

Cerro Porteño will be well pleased to have secured a 0-0 draw with Estudiantes in Argentina, but wary that an away goal in the return leg could prove vital. Estudiantes are stuck in a miserable rut having failed to win any of their last seven games .