| Copa Libertadores de América (also know as | | | | match would be played at a neutral site. Goal |
| Copa Toyota Libertadores) (Portuguese:Taça | | | | difference would only come into play if the |
| Libertadores da América, | | | | third match was drawn. If the third match did |
| English:"Liberators of the Americas Cup") is | | | | not produce an immediate winner a penalty |
| an international football cup competition | | | | shootout was used to determine a winner. |
| played annually by the top clubs of South | | | | |
| America. In recent years, top clubs from | | | | From 1988 through 2004, ties were decided on |
| Mexico have also competed. | | | | aggregate goals, with an immediate penalty |
| | | | shootout if the tie was level on aggregate |
| The tournament is organized by the | | | | after full time of the second leg. Several |
| Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol, | | | | times, the event would have had a different |
| better known as CONMEBOL. | | | | champion if it followed European rules. For |
| | | | example, if the away goals rule had been used |
| The name of the tournament is an homage to | | | | the 2004 champions Colombian club Once |
| the main leaders of the independence wars of | | | | Caldas, provided the same results would have |
| Latin America: Simón BolÃvar, Pedro I | | | | taken place under these different |
| of Brazil, José de San MartÃn, Antonio | | | | circumstances, would have exited the |
| José de Sucre, Bernardo O'Higgins and | | | | competition in the second round, and would |
| José Gervasio Artigas. It is one of the | | | | also have lost the final on away goals. |
| most prestigious club trophies in the sport | | | | |
| along with UEFA Champions League. | | | | Starting with the 2005 event, CONMEBOL |
| | | | finally began to use the away goals rule, but |
| In the beginning, only the national champions | | | | still does not employ extra time. |
| of the major South American federations | | | | |
| (namely Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, | | | | History Twelve years before the first |
| Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and | | | | official Copa Libertadores, an international |
| Uruguay) would play in the Libertadores Cup, | | | | club competition was set up containing |
| in the 1970s a second team from each country | | | | representatives (often the league champion) |
| was allowed entry and also teams from | | | | from seven different South American |
| Venezuela. The number of participants was | | | | countries. This was the South American Club |
| later increased to 24, 28, 32 and now 38. | | | | Championship 1948, played in a league in |
| | | | Santiago, Chile, and was won by Vasco da |
| Teams are qualified for the Libertadores Cup | | | | Gama. It has been recognised as a precursor |
| by winning a national championship or by | | | | to the Copa Libertadores by the South |
| finishing among the first few teams in the | | | | American Federation, but is not counted as |
| championship. Brazil Uruguay and Mexico are | | | | being as significant as the first official |
| the only countries participating which employ | | | | competition in 1960, created as a rival to |
| a second tournament that qualifies for the | | | | the European Cup which had been competed for |
| Libertadores (in Brazil, Copa do Brasil, | | | | since 1955. |
| since 1989; in Uruguay the "liguilla | | | | |
| pre-libertadores" since 1974, in Mexico,the | | | | The first cup was won by Penarol of Uruguay. |
| InterLiga since 2004). | | | | As of 2005, 20 different teams have won the |
| | | | cup. The most successful club has been the |
| The Cup has a preliminary round in which a | | | | Argentinian side Independiente, winners seven |
| number of clubs, currently 12, are paired in | | | | times including four in a row from 1972 to |
| a series of two-legged knockout ties. The six | | | | 1975. |
| survivors join the remaining clubs in the | | | | |
| first round, in which they are divided into | | | | The competition all-time goalscorer is still |
| groups of four. The first-round groups play | | | | striker Alberto Spencer of Ecuador. |
| in a league system, with each team playing | | | | |
| home and away against each other team. | | | | He played as a striker for Penarol during |
| | | | their golden age in the 60's, scoring 48 |
| The top two teams from each group are then | | | | goals in 70 games, and for Barcelona of |
| drawn in the second round, which consists of | | | | Guayaquil, scoring 6 goals in 7 games. In |
| a two-legged knockout tie. | | | | total, he scored 54 goals in the Copa |
| | | | Libertadores. Despite this, he remains a |
| From that point, the competition proceeds | | | | relatively unknown figure outside of South |
| with two-legged knockout ties to | | | | America, thus providing an excellent contrast |
| quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final. | | | | to George Best, who despite his abilities was |
| | | | relatively little-known outside of the United |
| Between 1960 and 1989 the previous winners | | | | Kingdom, with his 2005 death arguably giving |
| did not enter the competition until the | | | | him more worldwide publicity than he enjoyed |
| semi-final stage (wich was 2 group stage of 3 | | | | in life. A common cause can be found in both |
| teams each one), making it much easier to | | | | cases: Neither played in a World Cup. |
| retain the cup. | | | | |
| | | | In the Cup, Brazilians complain that |
| The 2005 edition will have the competitors | | | | especially in the early years the referees |
| distributed this way: * The previous year's | | | | were often biased against the Brazilian |
| champion * 5 from Argentina * 5 from Brazil * | | | | teams, and that other teams abuse of |
| 3 from Bolivia * 3 from Chile * 3 from | | | | violence. Argentines typically answer this by |
| Colombia * 3 from Ecuador * 3 from Mexico (up | | | | remarking that the Brazilian teams were often |
| from 2 in 2004) * 3 from Paraguay * 3 from | | | | uninterested in playing abroad. |
| Peru * 3 from Uruguay * 3 from Venezuela The | | | | |
| lowest-ranked team from each country, plus | | | | Over the years the competition has kept alive |
| the second lowest-ranked team from the nation | | | | a healthy sport rivalry between the competing |
| of the previous year's champion, will enter | | | | countries, especially between Brazil and |
| the preliminary round, with the winners | | | | Argentina, Argentina and Uruguay, Uruguay and |
| joining the other 26 teams in the main draw. | | | | Brazil, Argentina/ Uruguay/Peru and Chile. |
| | | | Unfortunately episodes of violence are not |
| Rules Note that unlike European club | | | | rare and the pressure for players on the |
| competitions, the Copa Libertadores | | | | field is tremendous. |
| historically did not use extra time or away | | | | |
| goals to decide a tie that was level on | | | | Since 1998, the Copa Libertadores has been |
| aggregate. From 1960 to 1987, two-legged ties | | | | sponsored by the Toyota Motor Corporation, |
| were decided on points, without taking goal | | | | which is why the name Copa Toyota |
| difference into consideration. If both teams | | | | Libertadores is also used. |
| were level on points after two legs, a third | | | | |