Mathías Cardaccio vs Cienciano, Libertadores 2008 - Golazo

During the group stages of Copa Libertadores 2008 Uruguayan side Nacional faced Cienciano in the final round of games in group four. If the hosts could avoid defeat to the Peruvian side that beat them 2-1 in the reverse fixture they would progress to the knockout stages.

This goal from Mathías Cardaccio was Nacional's second of the game, which they went on to win 3-1. All three of their goals in the game were good quality. Although Nacional were knocked out by Brazilian side São Paulo in the next round they returned in 2009 to put in the best performance from a Uruguayan team since 1987 by reaching the semi-finals.

Part of the Golazo series.

Agustín Orión kick-ups vs Liga de Quito, Copa Libertadores 2008

On 15 May 2008 Argentine side San Lorenzo hosted Liga de Quito of Ecuador in the 1st leg of their Copa Libertadores quarter final. San Lorenzo were overwhelming favourites to win the game, they had eliminated River Plate in the previous round coming back from 2-0 down away from home with only 9 players.

When the San Lorenzo goalkeeper Agustín Orión received the ball he inexplicably decided to try some kick-ups instead of clearing it, he was closed down by Liga's Argentine striker Claudio Bieler who nipped in to knock the ball into the net. Adrián González equalised for San Lorenzo with a free kick but a 1-1 draw was a brilliant result for the Ecuadorians to take back to their high altitude fortress in Quito for the 2nd leg.

The teams drew 1-1 in the second leg and Liga won the penalty shootout to eliminate San Lorenzo. The Ecuadorians went on to win the tournament beating Brazilian side Fluminense in the highest scoring final in the history of the competition to become the first Ecuadorian side to win a major international tournament. Since then they have also won the Copa Sudamericana in 2009 and established themselves as one of the powerhouses of South American football.

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

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.