2012 Copa Libertadores finals

Qualified teams

Background

To reach the finals, in the knockout phase Boca defeated Unión Española, Fluminense, and Universidad de Chile (2–0 on aggregate score), while Corinthians overcame Emelec, Vasco da Gama, and the defending champions Santos (2–1 on aggregate).

Boca and Corinthians reached the final having already lost out in their domestic and state leagues respectively (the Torneo Clausura de la Primera División and Paulistão respectively). But Boca having also reached the final of their domestic cup competition (the Copa Argentina), that will play against Racing on August 8 (in other words, after these finals). Meanwhile, Corinthians (that, like the others Brazilians teams in this Libertadores, didn't play their domestic cup – Copa do Brasil – because of schedule conflicts) reached the final occupying 17th place of their domestic league (the Brasileirão).

In their most recent Libertadores finals, Boca won in 2007 to Grêmio 5–0 (3–0 in Buenos Aires, 2–0 in Porto Alegre). While Corinthians had never played a Libertadores/Copa de Campeones finals before, Boca have played in nine Libertadores/Copa de Campeones finals, winning six (1977, 1978, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2007) and losing three (1963, 1979 and 2004). The two clubs have met each other twice in Americas before, with Boca winning 4–2 on aggregate in the round of 16 of the 1991 Copa Libertadores, and in the group stage of the 2000 Copa Mercosur, with Boca victory 3–0 in Buenos Aires, and a 2–2 draw in São Paulo (as Boca progressed in the competition – would be later eliminated by Atlético Mineiro in quarter-finals -, Corinthians was eliminated in this stage).

Road to 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

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References

References

1. (27 June 2012). "Corinthians earn draw at Boca Juniors". Fox News.
2. (27 June 2012). "Boca stunned by late Romarinho strike". ESPNstar.com.
3. (27 June 2012). "Romarinho's late goal helps Corinthians to draw". San Francisco Chronicle.
4. (27 June 2012). "Copa Libertadores: Boca Juniors 1 Corinthians 1". Soccerway.com.
5. (2012-06-28). "Boca y Corinthians, iguales (1-1)". CONMEBOL.com.
6. (5 July 2012). "¡Corinthians, brillante campeón!". CONMEBOL.com.
7. (5 July 2012). "Corinthians claim Copa glory". ESPN Soccernet.
8. (5 July 2012). "Corinthians wins Copa Libertadores for 1st time".
9. (5 June 2012). "Corinthians claim Copa glory". ESPN.
10. "Copa Santander Libertadores 2012: reglamento del torneo". [[CONMEBOL]].
11. (2012-06-22). "Copa Santander Libertadores 2012–árbitros finales 2012". CONMEBOL.