The 2011 Copa Libertadores de América finals were the final two-legged tie that decided the winner of the 2011 Copa Libertadores de América, the 52nd edition of the Copa Libertadores de América, South America's premier international club football tournament organized by CONMEBOL. The matches were played on 15 and 22 June 2011, between Brazilian club Santos and Uruguayan club Peñarol. Santos made their fourth finals appearance and first since 2003. Peñarol made their tenth finals appearance, and first since 1987. The two teams had previously met in the finals in 1962. Santos won the cup after beating Penarol 2–1 in the second leg of the final.
Qualified teams TeamPrevious finals appearances (bold indicates winners) Peñarol1960, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1970, 1982, 1983, 1987 Santos1962, 1963, 2003
Venues
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
SantosRound PeñarolOpponentVenueScoreOpponentVenueScoreByeFirst stageBye Deportivo Táchira Away 0–0Second stage Independiente Away 0–3 Cerro Porteño Home 1–1 Godoy Cruz Away 3–1 Colo-Colo Away 2–3 LDU Quito Home 1–0 Colo-Colo Home 3–2 LDU Quito Away 0–5 Cerro Porteño Away 2–1 Godoy Cruz Home 2–1 Deportivo Táchira Home 3–1 Independiente Home 0–1Group 5 runner-up Team Cerro Porteño6321138+511 Santos6321118+311 Colo-Colo63031516−19 Deportivo Táchira6024512−72Group 8 runner-up Team LDU Quito6312124+810 Peñarol6303611−59 Independiente622278−18 Godoy Cruz6213810−27 América Home 1–0Round of 16 Internacional Home 1–1 Away 0–0 Away 2–1 Once Caldas Away 1–0Quarterfinals Universidad Católica Home 2–0 Home 1–1 Away 1–2 Cerro Porteño Home 1–0Semifinals Vélez Sársfield Home 1–0 Away 3–3 Away 1–2
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.Copa Santander Libertadores de América 2011 Reglamento
Matches
First leg
PEÑAROL: GK 1 Sebastián SosaRB 22 Darío Rodríguez (c)CB 6 Guillermo RodríguezCB 23 Carlos ValdezLB 4 Alejandro González CM 14 Luis AguiarCM 5 Nicolás FreitasRW 18 Matías Mier LW 15 Matias Corujo CF 19 Juan Manuel Olivera CF 10 Alejandro Martinuccio Substitutes:GK 12 Fabián CariniDF 3 Gerardo AlcobaMF 8 Antonio Pacheco MF 24 Emiliano AlbínMF 25 Nicolás DomingoFW 9 Diego Alonso FW 11 Fabián Estoyanoff Manager:Diego AguirreSANTOS: GK 1 RafaelRB 21 ParáCB 14 Bruno RodrigoCB 6 DurvalLB 16 Alex SandroCM 5 Arouca DM 22 AdrianoRM 15 DaniloLM 8 Elano (c) RF 20 Zé Eduardo LF 11 Neymar Substitutes:GK 12 AranhaDF 13 Bruno Aguiar MF 7 CharlesMF 23 Felipe AndersonMF 25 Alan Patrick FW 9 KeirrisonFW 19 DiogoManager:Muricy Ramalho
Man of the Match: Durval (Santos) Linesmans: Nicolás Yegros (Paraguay) Rodney Aquino (Paraguay) Fourth official: Antonio Arias (Paraguay)
Second leg
SANTOS: GK 1 RafaelRB 22 DaniloCB 2 Edu Dracena (c)CB 6 DurvalLB 3 Léo CM 5 AroucaDM 15 AdrianoRAM 10 Ganso LAM 8 ElanoRF 20 Zé Eduardo LF 11 Neymar Substitutes:GK 24 VladimirDF 14 Bruno RodrigoDF 16 Alex Sandro DF 21 Pará MF 17 Maikon LeiteMF 25 Alan PatrickFW 9 KeirrisonManager:Muricy RamalhoPEÑAROL: GK 1 Sebastián SosaRB 4 Alejandro González CB 23 Carlos ValdezCB 6 Guillermo RodríguezLB 22 Darío Rodríguez (c)CM 14 Luis AguiarCM 5 Nicolás Freitas RW 15 Matias Corujo LW 18 Matías Mier CF 10 Alejandro MartinuccioCF 19 Juan Manuel OliveraSubstitutes:GK 12 Fabián CariniMF 8 Antonio PachecoMF 17 Jonathan Urretaviscaya MF 24 Emiliano Albín MF 25 Nicolás DomingoFW 9 Diego AlonsoFW 11 Fabián Estoyanoff Manager:Diego Aguirre Man of the Match: Arouca (Santos)
Linesmans: Ricardo Casas (Argentina) Hernán Maidana (Argentina) Fourth official: Juan Pompei (Argentina)
Copa Libertadores de América2011 ChampionSantosThird Title
See also 2011 FIFA Club World Cup 2012 Recopa Sudamericana
References
External links Official webpage