Copa Interamericana.

It was played this season, opposing the champions of CONCACAF to the winners of Copa Libertadores, but it was clear why this tournament never really established itself and eventually died. Thanks to the River Plate Museum, the first leg can be seen today on Youtube – mostly to provide additional explanation why Copa Interamericana died. This issue was played in July and August 1987 – no wonder why many consider it 1987 issue, not 1986. Well, first problem was different schedules: Copa Libertadores usually finished by July, but CONCACAF Champions Cup ended at the end of the year and even later: the 1986 final was played in January 1987. At that time it was practically impossible to stage the Interamerican final, because the South American domestic championships were going on. And there was little chances for the next months, for by then Copa Libertadores started. Pushing the final further and further away clearly suggested diminishing importance and interest, which was true for the South Americans – they had to find time, to travel to some more or less obscure place, losing money all the way. The clash was not even remotely equal, as the footage of this final makes painfully clear: LD Alajuelense (Costa Rica) vs River Plate (Argentina).

First Leg [Jul 21, 1987]: Asociación Liga Deportiva Alajuelense 0-0 Club Atlético River Plate

ALD Alajuelense: Alejandro González; Hernán Sosa, Chávez; Vargas (Benavídez 35), Juan Cayasso, Montero; Ulate, Mora, Arias, Solano, Ramírez. Unused substitutes: Porras, Guardia, J. M. Rodríguez, Chacón. Coach: Josepf Bouska.

CA River Plate: Sergio Javier Goycochea; Nelson Daniel Gutiérrez, Alejandro Alfredo Montenegro; Jorge Horacio Borelli, Américo Rubén Gallego, Oscar Alfredo Ruggeri; Claudio Paul Caniggia, Néstor Raúl Gorosito, Juan Gilberto Funes, Omar Arnaldo Palma, Raúl Roque Alfaro. Unused substitutes: Alberto Pedro Vivalda, Enrique Ernesto Corti, Héctor Alberto Enrique, Claudio Alberto Morresi, Ramón Miguel Centurión. Coach: Carlos Timoteo Griguol.

Referee: José Antonio Garza. Venue: Alajuela. Field: Alejandro Morera Soto.

It was Gulliver and the Lilliputians…

Captains Juan Cayasson and Americo Gallego. One is a World champion and the other is… who? River Plate already lost ‘the Prince’ – Francescoli – but had a squad of enormous talent nevertheless. Some big names did not even play – River had 2 1978 World champions: Gallego and Alonso, 3 fresh 1986 World champions: Ruggeri, Pumpido, and Enrique, two future big stars, just starting to get notice – Caniggia and Goycochea, Caniggia only 19 years old. Three Uruguayan national team players, also fresh from the 1986 World Cup – Gutierrez, Saralegui, and Alzamendi. There was one more Uuruguayn – Rubens Navarro – and an Ecuadorian – Diego Cordova – plus plenty of Argentine talent, which is difficult to dissmisss – Gorosito, Borelli, Alfaro, Funes, Palma… It was obvious even before the start of the match that Alajuelense had no chance – they knew it, their fans knew it. River Plate knew it just as well, so it played leisurely, even making a conscious effort not to tackle very hard their opponents. The Costaricans reacted in humble and somewhat amusing way: the players displayed techical skills and got huge applause, but it was in jest, for they had nothing else to do, all possible ways for building attacks closed. The fans booed River Plate not on principle hostility, but only in protest – when they wasted time or carelessly kicked the ball out of target. There was no hurry, the Argentinians preferred to walk and even did not simulate, but when pushed down, they gave the impression that it was much to sit than to stand, and, if stretched on the ground, it was better to lay down and perhaps take a nap than to sit. Tackling was another matter – trying as they could not to be hard, instincts prevailed now and then and Costa Ricans… died. Clearly, River Plate made an effort not to hard, but almost every touch led to great pain and injuries – Costa Ricans apparently were not used to real professional football and got easily injured. At one moment there were three needing medical help and Vargas was unable to continue the game. River Plate’s superiority was enormous and they even did not make any effort to play seriously. Alajuelense had one or two chances, which were not a result of some built up, but just came about, surprising them more than their opponents. Both teams hit the bars and Goycochea had to make two saves. River Plate missed more chances and Gonzales made a few wonderful saves until the match ended 0-0. It could have been 1-1, but more likely 3-0 River Plate – it looked like River Plate did not want really to score, played benevolent game, tried not to shame Alajuelense in front of their own fans. The hosts bravely tried to do whatever they can, which was not much, and were generously permitted to finish honourably.

Here is Alajuelense in the opening leg – heroes at the end, for they were not beaten by River Plate and even had some scoring opportunities.

The second leg was another matter. At home and with trophy to win, River Plate had no option but destroy the lowly opposition. Which they thoroughly did – the fans needed to see the new coach was a winner, so… River Plate had to play more serious football in Buenos Aires. And a trophy is a trophy, no jokes when it comes to adding one more to the vast collection. The opening leg was just a leisurely polite stroll, not hearting feelings was the general aim, but the second leg was no contest.

Second Leg [Aug 16, 1987]: Club Atlético River Plate 3-0 Asociación Liga Deportiva Alajuelense [Villazán 16, Funes 60, Enrique 67]

CA River Plate: Sergio Javier Goycochea; Nelson Daniel Gutiérrez, Oscar Alfredo Ruggeri; Rubén Darío Gómez, Américo Rubén Gallego, Jorge Horacio Borelli; Ramón Miguel Centurión, Héctor Alberto Enrique, Juan Gilberto Funes, Omar Arnaldo Palma, Jorge Villazán (Antonio Alzamendi 66). Unused substitutes: Alberto Pedro Vivalda, Enrique Ernesto Corti, Raúl Roque Alfaro, Claudio Paul Caniggia. Coach: Carlos Timoteo Griguol.

ALD Alajuelense: Alejandro González; Hernán Sosa, Chávez; Vargas, Mora, Montero; Ulate, Ramírez, Arias, Solano, Juan Cayasso. Unused substitutes: Porras, Benavídez, Chacón, Rodríguez, Guardia. Coach: Josepf Bouska.

Referees: Juan Escobar; Asterio Martínez, Lucio González. Venue: Buenos Aires. Field: Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti Predictably, River Plate won Copa Interamericana.

Always great to lift a cup, but this one was particularly easy to get.

LD Alajuelense made the best they could, but the difference in class was so great, they hardly entertained some hopes even for a moment. Standing from left: Ronald Mora, Alvaro Solano, Hernán Sosa, Franco Benavídes, Jorge Ulate, Alejandro González. Front row: Juan Cayasso, Elías Arias, José Chávez, Oscar Ramírez, Mauricio Montero.

Brave as they were, Alajuelense only proved the obvious – apart from Mexico, there was no even remotely decent football in the CONCACAF region, so Interamerican cup was meaninless tournament from any point of view.

River Plate won the trophy easily and probably just as easily forgot about it. This is the squad which played the second leg, actually winning Copa Interamericana.