The final of the 50th Anniversary of the Copa Libertadores is set. It will feature a club match up of Brazil vs. Argentina. The continent wanted to see a Brazil-Argentina final with Sao Paulo FC vs. CA Boca Juniors as the two marquee names. However, 30+ clubs had a different idea and the Sao Paulo-Boca Juniors did not materialize. Instead the 50th Copa Libertadores final will feature:

Cruzeiro vs. Estudiantes-La Plata


On Wednesday, Estudiantes de La Plata secured their place in the 2009 Copa Libertadores final with a 2-1 win in Montevideo in the 2nd leg of their semifinal encounter with Uruguay's Nacional. The scoreline gave Estudiantes a 3-1 aggregate victory. Ex-Boca Juniors forward Mauro Boselli scored twice in the 2nd half to seal the Argentine side's place in the final.

The result was a bit of revenge for Estudiantes because in 1971, Nacional of Uruguay defeated Estudiantes in the Libertadores final and prevented El Pincha from winning a 4th consecutive Libertadores title. This will be Estudiantes 5th appearance in a Libertadores final and their 1st since the run of 4 straight appearances that ended in 1971.

2nd Leg = Nacional (URU) 1 - 2 Estudiantes LP (ARG)
NAC: Alexander Medina (77')
EST: Mauro Boselli (53' & 90'+1')
Estudiantes advances to final, 3-1 on aggregate.


On Thursday night, the Olímpico Monumental was electric as Grêmio looked to overcome a 3-1 1st leg deficit against Cruzeiro in their semifinal encounter. However, Cruzeiro wasn't having it as Wellington Paulista scored twice in 2 minutes in the 35th & 37th minutes to end Grêmio's title hopes. Two late goals by the Tricolor Gaucho couldn't stop Cruzeiro from advancing.

The 2-2 scoreline in the 2nd leg gave Cruzeiro the 5-3 aggregate victory. The Belo Horizonte side will play in its 4th ever Libertadores final. Cruzeiro is looking for their 3rd Libertadores title, a mark that would equal São Paulo FC for the most Libertadores titles by a Brazilian club. Cruzeiro last lifted the trophy in 1997 and is the 5th different Brazilian club to reach the final in the last 5 years.

2nd leg = Grêmio (BRA) 2 - 2 Cruzeiro (BRA)
GRE: Réver (55') & Souza (75')
CRZ: Wellington Paulista (35' & 37')
Cruzeiro advances to final, 5-3 on aggregate.

The 1st leg of the final will be held on Wednesday, July 8th in La Plata at Estadio Ciudad de La Plata. The 2nd leg will take place a week later in Belo Horizonte at Estadio Mineirão.