The ¨Black Beast¨ as they are known in Chile established a legacy of persistency back in 1997 as they became the Copa Libertadores team with the most losses to have ever won the title. Three losses to start out the tournament would have ruled almost any team out the getting past the group stages.

All in all, they played from behind a good amount of the time yet there was enough intestinal fortitude to come back and end up ahead. They also endured a coaching change that was in many books the catalyst for their amazing turnaround. Paulo Autuori was given his walking papers mid-season and Brazilian international Oscar Bernardi. Bernardi woul help reload the team with important players like Palhinha and Elivélton, two players who were important pieces to the São Paulo dynasty a back in the early 90´s when they dominated the world football scene. Defender Wilson Gottardo and forward Marcelo would energize the boys from Belo Horizonte and the story would slowly be told. These players would mesh well with players like Brazilian international Mauro Galvão, Ricardinho, Donizete, and a young goalkeeper who would become the backstop for some very important teams at AC Milan- Dida.

They earned a spot to the final where they would face Peru´s Sporting Cristal. The Peruvians were the first team from that country to reach the finals of the premiere club tournament in the western hemisphere in 25 years. They were also the surprise team of the tournament after eliminating Racing Club, and former champs Vélez Sarsfield along the way. The side coached by Sergio Markarían had some incredibly talented young stars that would eventually make names for themselves in the game as was the case with Nolberto Solano, Flavio Maestri, and Roberto Palacios. They happened to have locked horns in group play when Sporting beat Cruzeiro in Lima 1-0 and the Brazilians returned the favor 2-1, thus allowing the Brazilians to qualify. In the away leg of the final both sides played to a scoreless draw in Lima. In the return leg the Raposa would end up on top with a goal by Elivélton.



Road to the Title

Group Stage
19/02/97 Cruzeiro 1 (Aílton), Gremio 2 (Zé Alcino y Emerson)
25/02/97 Alianza Lima 1 (Waldir Saenz), Cruzeiro 0
28/02/97 Sporting Cristal 1 (Julinho), Cruzeiro 0
12/03/97 Gremio 0, Cruzeiro 1 (Palinha)
18/03/97 Cruzeiro 2 (Reinaldo y Palinha), Alianza Lima 0
11/04/97 Cruzeiro 2 (Alex y Reinaldo), Sporting Cristal 1 (Manuel Marengo)

Second Round
07/05/97 El Nacional 1 (Kléver Chalá), Cruzeiro 0
14/05/97 Cruzeiro 2 (Marcelo 2), El Nacional 1 (Joffre Arroyo)
CRU win in PKs 5-3

Quarters
27/05/97 Cruzeiro 2 (Elivelton y Alex), Gremio 0
03/06/97 Gremio 2 (Mauro Galvao y Ze Alcino), Cruzeiro 1 (Fabinho)


Semis
23/07/97 Cruzeiro 1 (Marcelo), Colo Colo 0
30/07/97 Colo Colo 3 (Ivo Basay 3 (2p)), Cruzeiro 1 (Marcelo)
CRU win in PKs 4-1

Final
06/08/97 Sporting Cristal 0, Cruzeiro 0
13/08/97 Cruzeiro 1 (Elivélton), Sporting Cristal 0


Some factoids:

Only Brazilian side to win the domestic treble (state, national, and Copa do Brasil) in the same year.

Flashback: Cruzeiro 1997

Despite concerns from Cruzeiro officials about the H1N1 outbreak in Argentina, the 1st leg of the Copa Libertadores final went off as scheduled. The atmosphere was intense at the Estadio Ciudad de La Plata as Estudiantes La Plata hosted Cruzeiro.

The two teams were in Group 5 of the group stage of the tournament. The Brazilians won the group, as they defeated Estudiantes 3-0 at the Mineirão in Belo Horizonte in their 1st game. Estudiantes won the 2nd meeting 4-0 at the Estadio Ciudad de La Plata. Despite all the goals in their previous matches in the group stage, with a trophy on the line, the two teams played to a 0-0 scoreline in the 1st leg of the 50th Copa Libertadores final.

After the smoke cleared from the opening pyrotechnics and flares from an excited crowd, the teams could get down to the business of trying to put their name on the Libertadores trophy. The match was a tight affair featuring an attack-minded home Estudiantes side and a calm defensive-minded visiting Cruzeiro team.

The Argentinians came out firing but were constantly denied by Cruzeiro captain, goalkeeper Fabio. In the 12th minute, Fabio saved a bending free kick by Estudiantes captain Juan Sebastián Verón. 5 minutes later, Fabio came up big again when Estudiantes forward Enzo Pérez broke into the box down the right side and blasted a shot that Fabio deflected over the bar. Just before half-time Verón volleyed a shot from 5 meters outside the box that was saved again by Fabio.

In the 2nd half, Fabio came to the rescue again saving back to back excellent opportunities by Estudiantes. Mauro Boselli was on the receiving end of an excellent through ball but his shot was denied by Fabio. The subsequent corner kick was headed by Estudiantes defender Leandro Desábato but Fabio's diving save kept the Estudiantes faithful from celebrating.

Cruzeiro mounted some pressure on the Estudiantes goal the last 25 minutes of the game with the best opportunity coming in the 80th minute when Cruzeiro's #10 Wagner sent in a bending ball from the left side that Estudiantes' keeper Mariano Andujar poorly judged and knocked right to Kléber who had a wide open goal in front of him as he stood just outside the 6 meter box. Kléber missed as Cruzeiro's chance at an important away goal and victory flew wide of the net.

By the time Uruguayan referee, Jorge Larrionda blew the final whistle neither side had scored and 0-0 would be the final result of the 1st leg. It was a scrappy and physical affair with 7 yellow cards and 2 bloodied Estudiantes players. The winner of 50th Copa Libertadores de América will be determined on Wednesday, July 15 in Brazil in Belo Horizonte at Cruzeiro's home ground of Estadio Mineirão.

Copa Libertadores Final - 1st Leg Wrap

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.

Brazil vs. Argentina in Copa Lib Final