Copa Libertadores - More Exciting than Champions League?

By: Daryl | July 3rd, 2008

I know it’s only highlights, but after watching the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final this morning I get the feeling that South America’s continental tournament is way more exciting than it’s UEFA Champions League couterpart.

Little(ish) LDU Quito of Ecuador traveled to the legendary Maracaná in Brazil to face Fluminese last night with a 4-2 lead from the first leg. And despite an alcohol ban in the stadium the atmosphere looked magnificent.

LDU Quito extended their lead, but Fluminese levelled things at 5-5 with a hat-trick from Thiago Neves in front of 80,000 fans.

And then, after 180 minutes, penalty shootout. The hero turned out to be LDU Quito keeper Jose Francisco Cevallos, who saved three spot-kicks from Fluminese to give his team a 3-1 win in the shootout.

Quito’s win makes them the first Ecuadorian team ever to lift the Libertadores trophy. And that’s why I’d argue the Copa Lib is more exciting than the Champions League right now.

Not sure what the UEFA equivalent of Ecuador is, but it’s certainly not any of the usual suspects (English, Italian and Spanish clubs, plus maybe Bayern Munich) who take it in turns to win the Champions League.

Category: World Football

Tags: Champions League, Copa Libertadores, Ecuador, Fluminese, Jose Francisco Cevallos, LDU Quito, Maracana, World Football

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• ben |  July 3rd, 2008 at 6:10 am

  
  
  

  It would be roughly like a Belgian club winning the Champions League. Unbelievable.

  I went to a Liga de Quito game once when I was visiting Ecuador. Lots of fun. I sat right behind the player benches and it only cost me the equivalent of 50 cents (this was in 2000, before they adopted the USD as their currency).

  Posted from United States

  

• Aravind |  July 3rd, 2008 at 8:15 am

  
  
  

  I hope one day it will be telecasted in these parts of Asia

  Posted from India

  

• Laurie |  July 3rd, 2008 at 8:26 am

  
  
  

  This makes me smile. I used to have a Spanish teacher in college who was from Ecuador, and it pained him greatly that nobody knew anything about the country he loved. I think of him whenever I see an Ecuadorean team of any persuasion doing well.

  Posted from United States

  

• Laurie |  July 3rd, 2008 at 8:27 am

  
  
  

  P.S. 5-5 on aggregate?!?!?

  Damn.

  Posted from United States

  

• Bruno Romani |  July 3rd, 2008 at 8:42 am

  
  
  

  it has always been the most exciting and most difficult tournament.

  and Fluminense winning would’e been something like Torino or Fiorentina winning the champions league.

  Posted from United States

  

• C@milo |  July 3rd, 2008 at 11:48 am

  
  
  

  La Liga played great, but gave up in the second half!Ligas gole in the second half of extra time was not offsides to me!But who cares thay still won in penalties!!thanx to cevallhos saving 3 penalty kicks!!

  Posted from United States

  

• Ronald |  July 3rd, 2008 at 11:54 am

  
  
  

  WOOOooooooooo…….sorry i needed to get that out of the way one last time.

  as far as the game was, for a Brazilian club fan - it was incredible, for any ecuadorian fan ( myself included ) - it was gut-wrenching.

  I belived this was final was at least 5 times more exciting than the CL final ( barring the whole Terry incident ). and also, the Uefa equivalent would have actually be if a French team had one the title ( we have talent, and our most talented players play for LDU ).

  Posted from United States

  

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