Ecuador had the smallest league in South America – 10 teams. Yet, they played more games than the members of the West German Bundesliga: 36 vs 34. Like everywhere else, the championship had two separate stages, with a twist: both stages were played as standard league championship and the top 3 teams of each tournament went to play a final mini-league stage deciding the champion. But the bottom 2 clubs of each stage were relegated immediately, so the last 2 of the first stage were replaced by 2 promoted clubs for the second stage. The teams on the top got bonus points, with which they entered the last decisive tournament – the stage winners – 3 points, the 2nd placed – 2, and the 3rd placed – 1 point. This formula made more sense than any other variation used in South America. Half of the league members were from Quito – exactly 5 clubs. After 18 rounds, the final table of the first stage was may be curious for Ecuadorians, but foreign observers were hardly able to make much sense of it – Ecuadorian football was unknown outside South America.
Bonita Banana (Machala) finished last and was relegated – the club does not exist for so long, it hardly left even traces of information about itself. People perhaps are familiar with the name just because they bye bananas – the fruits still carry little stickers with this very name of the producing company and very likely the club represented this very company, but did not last long. Down they went to oblivion, along with a stronger club – El Nacional (Quito) finished 9th. Two better known to foreigners clubs – Emelec and Barcelona – had weak first stage, finishing 5th and 7th. The top three places were occupied by Universidad Catolica (Quito) – 3rd, LDU (Quito) – 2nd, and Deportivo Cuenca (Cuenca) – 1st, and perhaps surprise winners. The trio qualified for the final stage and the second stage was not very appealing to them: the only question was one of relegation – the three clubs had only to play good enough to avoid the relegation spots.
Manta (Manta) and Aucas (Quito) were promoted and played in the second stage. Evidently, Quito was the big football center of the country and no matter what, half of the league consisted of Quito clubs – one went down, but immediately another went up. Newcomers usually are not expected to shake a league, but there was a bit of surprise this year: Aucas was the more famous of the two promoted, but it was not them changing the status quo. In fact, Aucas were what was expected a newcomer to be: weak. They tried their best, but finished 9th – and down they went as soon as they joined first division. Last in the second stage was Deportivo Quito – this was a surprise, for Deportivo had strong first stage, missing qualification spot only on worse goal-difference. They were 4th and expected to be strong again and try to go to the final. But they simply collapsed in the second stage, earning just 9 points – the worst team performance this year.
Deportivo Quito – instead of trying to win the title, they were relegated.
Up the table, the winners of the first stage predictably played only to stay above relegation zone – they took 6th, 7th, and 8th places, saving strength for the final stage. It was not good year for Barcelona – once again they finished in mid-table. The little known newcomers Manta were the big surprise of the stage – they finished 3rd. Brave performance and sudden chance to win even the title. It was also the only club going tot he final stage with negative goal-difference – a mere curiosity, for the finalist carried only bonus points to the final. Tecnico Universitario (Ambato) finished 2nd and Emelec waa very strong this time – they were first, with record 25 points: the best record of both preliminary stages.
The final mini-league had awards for two teams – the title, of course, was most important, but 2nd place was too, for whoever took it represented Ecuador in Copa Libertadores. Deportivo Cuenca apparently exhausted itself in the first stage of the championship – they were weak in the second stage and even weaker at the finals: dead last, 2 points behind the 5th team, even with their 3 bonus points. Actually, only two clubs competed for the title.
LDU finished 5th. 10 points was really nothing.
Tecnico Universitario finshed 4th, also with 10 points, but better goal-difference than LDU.
Manta was great – they finished 3rd, with 3rd best performance at the final stage – they earned 10 points, 2 more than LDU and Tecnico Universitario. Their bonus point moved them above the rivals, entering the stage with 2 bonus points. Manta was not a title contender at all, but still it was fantastic season – they were not even in the league when the opening stage of the championship started, and finished with bronze.
The battle for the title was Quito rivalry: Emelec vs Universidad Catolica. Seemingly, both clubs played careful strategy so far – Universidad Catolica was satisfied with qualifying for the finals in the first stage, which Emelec practically missed, concentrating on the second stage. Both teams gave their best at the final stage and Universidad Catolica was a bit better than Emelec – they won 15 points to the 14 of their rivals. But… bonus points were favoring Emelec and Universidad Catolica finished 2nd.
Heavy price paid for careful overture: Universidad Catolica perhaps saved their strength for the final stage, but not excelling earlier cost them the title.
Emelec triumphed thanks to winning the second stage – the 3 bonus points gave the title, but it was not undeserved. Emelec had strong second and final stage, a bit different approach than the minimal one of Universidad Catolica.
5th title for Emelec and their first since 1972. Great year for one of the most popular Ecuadorian clubs. Once upon a time workers from Ecuador Electric Company – Empresa Electrica del Ecuador – formed a little club of heir own. They named it after their employer – EmElec. Nothing much at first, but soon things changed, not without help from the company. The club became popular and professional, one of the strongest in the country. But they had difficulties winning – they routinely came close, yuet, losing at the end, earning the nickname ‘Los Eternos Vicecampeones’ – eternally second. Which naturally irritates fans. Winning a championship perhaps meant more for the club and the fans than to others – and 5th title was great success, coming after long wait.