Peru joined the three group winners and the semi-finals opposed the reigning South America champions to Chile. Brazil played against Paraguay. And expected to win. The other winner was not so easy to predict, but perhaps Peru was favoured – they played well at the World Cup 1978, which Chile did reach. Peru had few well known around the world players too. However, Cubillas, Sotil, and Oblitas were not in the team. In front of 50 000 fans, Chile surprisingly won in Lima. Carlos Caszely scored both goals for his team.
He silenced the home crowd in the 36th minute. Mosquera equalized in the 71st, but it was Peruvian day.
Caszely (third from left) scored a second goal in the 76th minute and was substituted 4 minutes later. Peru lost at home and the chances of repeating 1975 were next to nothing.
The losers in Lima, from left: Rubén Toribio Díaz, Guillermo La Rosa, Roberto Mosquera, Jaime Duarte, César Cueto, Freddy Ravello, Jorge Olaechea, José Velásquez, Germán Leguía, Eusebio Acasuzo, Héctor Chumpitaz. More was expected from this team, but still there was one more match. No miracle happened in Santiago, where 75 000, largely Chileans, saw a bitter battle and two players were sent off – Rojas (Peru) in 33rd minute, and Figueroa (Chile) in the 40th. No goals were scored at all and Peru was eliminated. Chile went to the final.
Meantime, Brazil visited Paraguay and lost 1-2 in Asuncion. Once again there was new attacking line: Jair, Socrates, and Eder. Zico was out again. So was Paulo Cesar Carpeggiani. Falcao was the key midfielder, supported by Chicao and Tarciso. So far, Brazil was not impressive at all and may be changes were badly needed, but there were too many changes. It was different midfield and attack almost every match. And nothing worked… Brazil was 0-2 after the first half and managed to score a goal at last in the 79th minute. Palinha, who replaced Jair, scored the only goal. The strikers performed poorly again – Eder was also replaced. Yet, nothing really terrible – the match in Asuncion was expected to be difficult, but Brazil managed to lose by a goal. Now Palinha and ZeSergio – the substitutes in Asuncion – were regulars, Paulo Cesar Carpeggiani was back, with Falcao and Tita, and Marco Antonio started as left full back. Marco Antonio, world champions from 1970, and member of the 1974 world cup team, was out of favour for some time – and suddenly he was back again. Zico was out, though… Coutinho was clearly uncertain of his team, constantly made changes, keeping only Leao and the central defenders as regulars. Too many changes… no stability, and no clear idea. The experiments did not work so far – and did not work again. Falcao opened the score in the 29th minute. Two minutes later Milciades Morel equalized. Socrates scored from a penalty in the 61st – 2-1 Brazil. The advantage lasted only 7 minutes – Romero equalized again and the tough Paraguayans kept the tie to the end: 2-2. Brazil, instead of champions, were eliminated.
Perhaps Claudio Coutinho was really to blame – his team was far from great at the 1978 World Cup. This time he experimented too much, without success – he used 37 players in 6 games. Some choices were strange, mildly said. There was no really promising line and even he introduced a whole bunch of players soon to become world-famous, they became famous under another coach – Socrates, Falcao, Eder had to wait a few more years. Zico was in and out of the team – supposedly the greatest player of his generation was hardly the leader Brazil needed. Unfortunately, Carpeggiani was not either, contrary to what was expected from him after his impressive 1974 World Cup. 1979 was yet another disappointment, as the whole decade was for Brazil.
Chile vs Paraguay. Unexpected finalist, but well deserving to be there. Paraguay had won Copa America once – in the distant 1953, Chile – never. Chilean football was going up, but it was the same with Paraguayns: Olimpia (Asuncion) won Copa Libertadores this very year and the national team depended heavily on Olimpia players. The other slight advantage was individual – Chile depended on aging stars – Figueroa and Caszely. Paraguay – on rising stars, particularly Romero, considered at that time more talented than Maradona. The final was played as the whole tournament – two legs, home and away games. Paraguay hosted the first match – and won it with confidence 3-0. Romero scored twice and Victor Milciades Morel added the third.
The new heroes scoring and enjoying themselves.
28.11.79 Asunción, Defensores del Chaco
PAR – CHI 3:0 (2:0)
(40,000) Luis Gregorio Da Rosa URU
PAR: Fernández – Espínola, Paredes (79 Cibils), Sosa, Torales – Torres (62 Florentín),Kiese, Romero – Isasi, M.Morel, E.Morel
CHI: Osbén – Galindo, Valenzuela, Quintano, Escobar – Rivas, Soto, Bonvallet (46 Estay) -Rojas, Caszely, Fabbiani
1:0 Romero 12, 2:0 M.Morel 36, 3:0 Romero 85.
A week later Chile needed a win to stay alive – the rules stipulated a third match, if the finalists won one and lost the other match. The hosts clinched 1-0 victory, thanks to early goal. Two players were sent off in the 17th minute – Eduardo Bonvallet (Chile) and Eugenio Morel (Paraguay). It was not a friendly match… Chile was not overwhelming, but the struggle had to continue.
CHI – PAR 1:0 (1:0)
(55,000) Ramón Barreto URU
CHI: Osbén – Galindo, Valenzuela, Figueroa, Escobar – Rivas, Bonvallet, Rojas (85 Neira) -Caszely, Fabbiani (56 Estay), Véliz
PAR: Fernández – Solalinde, Paredes, Sosa, Torales – Romero, Kiese (46 Florentín), Talavera (80 Cabañas) – Isasi, M.Morel, E.Morel
1:0 Rivas 10
sent off: Bonvallet (17) / E.Morel (17)
There was nothing new about a third match – during the 1970s it was common to play a third final match in South America to decide winners at last. It had to be on neutral ground – in Buenos Aires, a week after the match in Santiago. Only 6000 attended… a tiny number for continental final, but in Argentina nobody cared much for either Chile, or Paraguay. Both teams battled, unable to score. Extra time was played to no change. 0-0.
11.12.79 Buenos Aires, José Amalfitani
PAR – CHI 0:0 (0:0, 0:0, 0:0)
(6,000) Arnaldo César Coelho BRA
PAR: Fernández – Espínola, Paredes, Sosa, Torales – Florentín, Kiese, Romero – Pérez(85 Cibils), M.Morel, Aquino (61 Torres)
CHI: Osbén – Galindo, Figueroa, Valenzuela, Escobar – Rivas, Dubó (90 Estay), Rojas – Caszely, Fabbiani (61 Yáñez), Véliz
No winner… But there was – goal-difference was the next decisive factor. And it was in favour of Paraguay! One can imagine the joy.
Unable to score a goal for 210 minutes – two matches plus overtime – Paraguay were champions of the continent. Thanks to their home victory. One can pity the Chileans…
Chile was not a great team, but not bad one either and the boys gave their best, Unfortunately, they came only second. One can be sorry for Figueroa and Caszely, who were getting old empty-handed. It was almost their last chance to win a trophy with the national team. Still, second in South America was a big achievement – the first silver medals for Chile.
Paraguay were of course happy with the cup in their hands. A second South American title ranked them immediately 4th most successful country on the continent.
Modest champions from a modest country. Paraguay really depended on small group of players and used almost the same regulars from the start to the end of the championship.
These are the main heroes: standing from left: Juan Espinola, Juan B. Torales, Flaminio Sosa, Carlos Kiese, Roberto Fernandez, Roberto Paredes.
First row: Aldo Florentin, Milciades Morel, Osvaldo Aquino, Amado Perez, Julio Cesar Romero.
Little known, all playing for Paraguayan clubs, and lead by equally unknown coach – Ranulfo Miranda. Eight players from Olimpia, which already won Copa Libertadores and was going to add the Intercontinental Cup to the trophy room. It was fully Paraguayan year – winning everything and adding a world class star as well – Julio Cesar Romero. ‘Romerito’ had excellent tournament and had the edge over younger Maradona: he was champion of South America. Maradona played a little bit for early eliminated Argentina… quite a difference. New champion, new star – that was the sum of Copa America. For Paraguay – perhaps the best year in the history of her football. As a legacy… this championship was quickly forgotten. Nothing really exciting, may be more disappointment. If one is not Paraguayan, of course.