Looking at it as an adult there is a greater sense of romaniticism that invades my heart when the subject is talked about. Today, we see the Copa Libertadores spectrum and Colombia was long wiped off the map. Whether you call it incompetence or a different generation that is playing now, it is irrelevant. Maybe the players now are not looking for glory with the Colombian domestic sides; instead they are looking to take the first foreign offer to leave and earn "the big bucks".

In 1989 that was not the case yet. There was a wind of change and the future seems very bright. If Charles Dickens would have written a 21st century version of A Tale of Two Cities, Medellín would have been the perfect city to set it in. Medellín's spectacular beauty was overshadowed by its Wild West justice. Not a family would be immune from this type of violence, making the Middle East look like some type of nursery where love and respect for human beings was the norm. People were killed indiscrimately. Whether the bullet was for you or not, when it was your day... it was your day. People talked about violence the way they talked about dinner plans. "Hey, did you who got killed today?" That was the source of all conversations. Stateside my parents always had to answer that question, and every time they would come out in shock. There were a few times when either utter silence or wailing screams proceded a the click of the telephone. An uncle was shot. A cousin was found in some rural ranch tortured and "neck tied". It was a place that generated love but at the same time had a great deal of fear.

Then there was a tiny silver lining that emerged. A young coach named Francisco Maturana and his assistant Hernán Darío Gómez came to Atlético Nacional ready to take the revolution that they had started with the national team that they were also in charge of for the past three years. During that time they made Colombia the sensation of South American football with their unique style of football that had caught the attention of the big guns in the region after the 1987 Copa América. Colombia was the revelation of the tournament in Argentina and would eventually come in third place beating the host nation and reigning world champion in El Momumental in Buenos Aires.

It was a beautiful time, although it it not shared in the same light all throughout the country. The same sword that they fight for is the same one they destroy themselves from within. In Colombian football, the triumph of some is the jealousy of everyone else. In many countries, a team's run to the Copa Libertadores is a galvanizing event. It is a moment in time that showcases best of what that country has to offer. This was something that was greater that transcended football. Regionalism was and still is the venow that has stunted the growth of Colombia as a nation and as a potential footballing power.

Twenty years have passed and the Bogota media continue to pound that team that won the first international title. The allegations of bribes, death threats, extortion that they say benefitted Nacional. There was also the huge cloud that hung over Colombian football during that era. Various Colombian sides, especially the more successful ones, had some of the Colombian drug cartels as their "investors". América was one of the guilty culprits as the Rodríguez Orejuelas, with whose money were able to bring some of the best players from South America like Julio César Falcioni, César Cueto, Roberto Cabañas, Juan Manuel Battaglia, and Ricardo Gareca. These players as well as domestic stars like Willington Ortíz and Anthony D'Avila became the cream of the crop in Colombia as well as perennial contenders for Copa Libertadores titles throughout the mid 80's and 90's. In the end the Cali-based club was came up short in three consecutive opportunities against teams Peñarol, Argentinos Juniors, and River Plate.

The group stages saw the Nacional and Millonarios face off against Ecuadorian sides Emelec and Deportivo Quito. The Colombian sides would come out on top of this matchup with Millonarios winning group with ten while Nacional had seven. Their first match in Medellín was a clinic in domination by the Bogota side 2-0, but it would be their quarterfinal matchup the one that would make this bitter rivalry even moreso. To start out with Paisas (from Antioquia)and Rolos(from Bogota) have had an intense rivalry unlike any other one in Colombia. On the pitch it was always heated; off of it, it was borderline gang war.

After Nacional beat Racing Club of Argentina on a 3-2 aggregate in the second round, they would face Millonarios in the quarterfinals. They would win the away leg at home, but it would be the return leg in Bogota that would be marred in controversy as Chilean referee would not call two clear penalties in favor of Millonarios and allowing Nacional to draw. To this day, the Bogota fans and media have mentioned that Silva was bribed and even threatened to death by the infamous Medellín cartel bosses, in particular Pablo Escobar who himself was a Nacional fan. Nacional would then face Uruguayan side Danubio. They played to a scoreless draw in Montevideo, but it would be the return leg every Nacional fan would remember. The Verdolaga attack poured on the style and they would decimate Danubio 6-0 at the Atanasio Girardot.

That would set the stage for the cardiac final.

In Asunción, Olimpia won 2-0 in a rough and tumble match. Medellín would be deemed "not fit" for an internation final, so the return leg would have to take place in Bogota. I could described the match, but why not see the highlights instead.



I remember being in the middle of my parents bed listening to the game on the radio. And when that final penalty was scored by Leonel Alvarez, I screamed with joy, waking up my parents in the process. But as soon as they woke up, they realized what had happened; the instant anger turned to joy and we celebrated the biggest win in Colombian football history to that point.


Although it was historic for Colombia, in the long run, teams would suffer the backlash of their actions. Nacional would have to defend their title in 1990 outside of Colombia due to the level of violence that had escalated in that country. Nacional would have to replay their return leg match against Vasco da Gama . Eventually, Colombian side were suspended from international play for two years.

But the legacy will forever be there. The goals, the Higuita heroics, the tension, the Higuita heroics, and finally the joy that was seen in Colombia and here in Miami for the next 24 hours as Colombians went to the streets and celebrated together. Now that I am an adult I can see the surreality behind it. To see fans from different teams celebrating behind one flag was great. My father, an Independiente Medellín fan, was emotional when he saw the Alvarez penalty and the ensuing mayhem.

I wish that would have carried over. I wish that would have. It was so beautiful, because for a moment in time Colombia there was joy overshadowing the eternal sadness that enveloped such a beautiful land.