Copa Interamericana. If anything, stronger than usual opponents contested it this time – Paraguayan Olimpia (Asuncion) and Mexican America (Mexico City). It was played in 1991, once again leading to confusion to which year actually the contest belongs – as in previous years, different sources give alternatively 1990 and 1991. For the clubs and their fans the competition apparently had some importance, for both legs were quite well attended and the battle on the field was fierce.
Perhaps too fierce, for there was a massive brawl started by America’s Uruguayan coach Carlos Miloc. It could have been the biggest attraction of the contest, disgraceful as it was.
Eventually, America prevailed.
First Leg
October 1, 1991
Estadio de los Defensores del Chaco, Asunción
Attendance: 15,000
Olimpia (PAR) 1-1 América (MEX)
[Gabriel González 30; Eduardo de los Santos “Edú” 9]
Olimpia: Jorge Battaglia – Virginio Cáceres, Mario Ramírez, Rogelio Delgado, Silvio Suárez, Fermín Balbuena, Jorge Guasch, Carlos Guirland, Jorge Gómez (Campos), Carlos Torres (Franco), Gabriel González
Coach: Aníbal “Maño” Ruiz (PAR)
América: Alejandro García – Juan Hernández, José Enrique Vaca, José Enrique Rodón, Cecilio de los Santos, Alejandro Domínguez, Jesús Eduardo Córdova, Gonzalo Farfán, Antonio Carlos Santos, Eduardo de los Santos (Arturo Cañas), Luis Roberto Alves “Zague”
Coach: Carlos Miloc (URU)
Referee: Francisco Lamolina (ARG)
Second Leg
October 12, 1991
Estadio Azteca, Ciudad de México
Attendance: 60,000
América (MEX) 2-1 Olimpia (PAR)
[Antonio Teodoro dos Santos “Toninho” 7, 41; Gabriel González 20]
América: Alejandro García – Juan Hernández, Alejandro Domínguez, José Enrique Rodón, Cecilio De los Santos (55′ sent off) – Gonzalo Farfán, Jesús Eduardo Córdoba (26′ José Enrique Vaca), Eduardo de los Santos, Antonio Carlos Santos, Antonio Teodoro dos Santos “Toninho” (64′ Arturo Cañas), Luis Roberto Alves “Zague”
Coach: Carlos Miloc (URU)
Olimpia: Jorge Battaglia – Virginio Cáceres, Mario Ramírez, Rogelio Delgado (55′ sent off), Silvio Suárez – Fermín Balbuena, Jorge Guasch, Adolfo Jara Heyn, Carlos Guirland (55′ César Castro) – Gabriel González, Cristóbal Cubilla (46′ Julio César Romero).
Coach: Aníbal “Maño” Ruiz (PAR)
Referee: Ronald Gutiérrez (CRC)
The match was stopped temporarily by fighting after 50 minutes when América coach Carlos Miloc ran on the field to attack Olimpia player Fermín Balbuena. Then Olimpia players went for the coach, knocking him to the ground and kicking him. CONCACAF suspended Miloc for a year, and América fired him. Apart from that, one my note the popping-up of Julio Cesar Romero again against Mexican – he already not only left Mexico, where he played a bit for champions Puebla in 1990, but also his next club Sportivo Luqieno to join by 1991 Olimpia.
America happily received Copa Interamericana.
Most likely this photo is from the Interamericana contest. Olimpia lost, so nothing much to brag about.
America (Mexico City) won the trophy for 2nd time after winning it in 1977. The club provides some information of the successful contest, but quite minimally – victory deserves some print, but as the trophy was unimportant, nothing more than that. Still, they become double winners of Copa Interamericana. Prevailing over South Americans brings some pride in North America.