2011 Copa Libertadores finals

Qualified teams

Background

The final was contested by Brazilian side Santos and Peñarol of Uruguay, a historic repeat of the 1962 finals disputed by legendary players such as Pelé, Alberto Spencer, Gilmar, Juan Joya, Mauro, José Sasía, Mengálvio, Pedro Rocha, Coutinho, Juan Lezcano, and Pepe, with Lula coaching the Santistas and Béla Guttmann directing the Carboneros. This final is also the first between Brazilian and Uruguayan clubs since the 1983 finals in which Peñarol was dethroned by Grêmio. The venues for the finals is the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo and the Estádio Municipal Paulo Machado de Carvalho (Pacaembu) of São Paulo. Rodrigo Possebon, an Italian player of Santos, became the first European player to participate in a Copa Libertadores finals.

Both teams entered the competition having won it previously, Santos in 1962 and 1963; Peñarol in 1960, 1961, 1966, 1982 and 1987. To reach the final, in the knockout phase Santos beat América, Once Caldas and lastly Cerro Porteño, while Peñarol dethroned defending champion Internacional, beat Universidad Católica and overcame Vélez Sársfield. Santos entered the competition as champions of their domestic cup (the 2010 Copa do Brasil) while Peñarol participated as domestic league winner (winning the 2009–10 Primera División).

The winners would earn the right to represent CONMEBOL at the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup, entering at the semifinal stage. They would also play against the winners of the 2011 Copa Sudamericana in the 2012 Recopa Sudamericana. Neymar Jr was destined to be a great player already.

Road to the finals

Rules

The final is played over two legs; home and away. The higher seeded team plays the second leg at home. The team that accumulates the most points —three for a win, one for a draw, zero for a loss— after the two legs is crowned the champion. Should the two teams be tied on points after the second leg, the team with the best goal difference wins. If the two teams have equal goal difference, the away goals rule is not applied, unlike the rest of the tournament. Extra time is played, which consists of two 15-minute halves. If the tie is still not broken, a penalty shootout ensues according to the Laws of the Game.

Matches

First leg

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Second leg

Danilo

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References

References

1. (23 June 2011). "Brazil's Santos wins Copa Libertadores". ESPN.
2. (23 June 2011). "Neymar delivers Copa Libertadores triumph to Santos". The Independent.
3. (23 June 2011). "Santos Futebol Clube vs Peñarol Report". Goal.com.
4. (3 June 2011). "Penarol march into final". ESPN Soccernet.
5. (2 June 2011). "Santos edge into final". ESPN Soccernet.
6. [http://www.conmebol.com/export/sites/conmebol/Docs/Copa_Libertadores/2011/Reglamento_Libertadores_2011.pdf Copa Santander Libertadores de América 2011 Reglamento] {{Webarchive. link. (2011-11-19 {{in lang). es
7. "Copa Santander Libertadores 2011: árbitros para las Finales".