Copa Libertadores. As it happened, this issue of Libertadores had few things of note – the Venezuelan clubs dropped out before the tournament started, leaving Group 5 with only 2 teams. Brazilian Bangu made its only appearance in the tournament, but they were especially weak, finishing last in Group 4 with 2 points. The other Brazilian representative, Curitiba failed to win the group, and no Brazilian club reached the second stage. No Uruguayan team either, for they had the misfortune to play in Group 1 with the Argentine clubs. Penarol was surprisingly weak. The general decline of Peruvian clubs was also felt – they finished bellow the Bolivians. Apart from that, everything was as usual: the 5 group winners reached the second stage, where the current holder of the cup joined them, they were divided into 2 round-robin groups and winners went to play the final. Group 1. 1.River Plate (Buenos Aires) 6 5 1 0 13- 4 11 2.Wanderers (Montevideo) 6 3 0 3 10-10 6 3.Boca Juniors (Buenos Aires) 6 2 2 2 7- 8 6 4.Peñarol (Montevideo) 6 0 1 5 4-12 1 Group 2.
1.América (Cali) 6 3 3 0 8- 4 9
2.Deportivo Cali 6 2 3 1 8- 5 7 3.Cobresal (El Salvador) 6 1 5 0 6- 5 7 4.Universidad Católica (Santiago) 6 0 1 5 5-13 1 Group 3.
1.Bolívar (La Paz) 6 4 1 1 12- 7 9
2.Jorge Wilstermann (Cochabamba) 6 3 0 3 11- 8 6 3.Universitario (Lima) 6 3 0 3 9-11 6 4.Universidad Técnica Cajamarca 6 1 1 4 7-13 3 Group 4.
1.Barcelona (Guayaquil) 6 2 4 0 7- 5 8
2.Coritiba (Curitiba) 6 2 3 1 8- 5 7 3.Deportivo Quito 6 2 3 1 12-11 7 4.Bangu (Rio de Janeiro) 6 0 2 4 6-12 2 Group 5. The Venezuelan representatives (Estudiantes and Táchira) withdrew 1.Olimpia (Asunción) 2 2 0 0 5- 2 4 2.Nacional (Asunción) 2 0 0 2 2- 5 0 Semi-finals. Group 1. 1.River Plate (Buenos Aires) 4 2 1 1 7- 3 5 Argentinos Juniors (Bs. Aires) 4 2 1 1 3- 1 5 3.Barcelona (Guayaquil) 4 1 0 3 2- 8 2 First Place Playoff Oct 4: River Plate - Argentinos Jrs. 0-0 (after extra time) River Plate qualify due to better goal difference in group. Group 2. 1.América (Cali) 4 2 1 1 4- 4 5 2.Olimpia (Asunción) 4 1 2 1 5- 4 4 3.Bolívar (La Paz) 4 1 1 2 5- 6 3 Final.This was special final – America (Cali) was playing their third consecutive final and it was high time to break the bad spell and win the Cup at last. Arguably, America had its strongest team in history, so it was not just ambition – this squad craved international success. There were big stars playing in it – the Paraguayan Cabanas and the Argentine Gareca, who played for River Plate just a year earlier. River Plate had even greater hunger – not just wonderful team, but also they were spurred by pain: River Plate did not won Copa Libertadores so far, losing both finals they played in 1966 and 1976. Like America, they needed to break the bad spell, although in their case it was matter of reaching a final once every 10 years. It was more than just failing behind the other great Argentine clubs – their lack of success brought them the nickname 'gallinas' – chicken – and they were constantly mocked by the rivals Boca Juniors. By both supporters and players – Boca players frequently flapped their arms, like chicken do, after scoring goal to River. Both opponents driven by similar ambitions and having great squad in top form, the final was promising a great clash, if not necessary great football, with high possibility of going to third match. River Plate got the upper hand in the opening match, played in Cali – they were leading 2-0 by the 25
minute and America was unable to really come back. First Juan Gilberto Funes showed the deftness, which earned him the nickname ‘El Bufalo’ and opened the score, then Alzamendi gave great pass to Norberto Alonso,who made it 2-0. Roberto Cabanas scored right after the start of the second half, in the 47
minute, but that was all America could do. America 1 – River Plate 2.
The second leg was not easier even with the advantage of playing in front of home crowd for River: America did not want to lose and South American tempers showed up – Montenegro (River Plate) and Gareca (America) were sent off. Eventually, Enrique gave a pass to Funes, who held the ball up, turned and hit a low shot in the left-hand side of the Colombian net. It went in.
The Argentine goalkeeper of America Julio Cesar Falcioni had no chance. El Matador scored his second goal in the finals, the only goal in this game and River Plate won. May be Gareca felt sorry for leaving River Plate…
River Plate broke the bad spell and finally won Copa Libertadores – ‘gallinas’ no more!
Three times losers – that is bad luck. Or lack of true class… probably more to the point and a comment on the state of many big South American clubs at the time. America, as strong as it was and having perhaps its best period ever, never had the historical weight of clubs like Independiente, Santos, Penarol, Flamengo and others from Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. Colombian football as a whole ranked even lower than America – the club after all used foreign talent regularly. But that could be the exact argument: bad financies, stars leaving to play in Europe, general mismanagement diminished football in all leading nations. America climbed to the top largely because it appeared stable compared to most. Yet, it was enough to meet solid and sound team from one of the traditional leaders and the Colombians lost. Not without fight, but still they came second best. Made an anti-record, though – losing three finals in three years. Imagine the frustration.
‘Gallinas’ no more. Long years of pain and suffering ended – River Plate won Copa Libertadores at last. It was strong campaign – they lost only one match, but that was also the tiny black spot to worry about: Argentinos Juniors not only beat them, but River Plate managed to overcome them only on better goal-difference. True, Argentinos Juniors were the reigning holders of Copa Libertadores, but they had a limited squad, beyond compare with the wealth of talent River Plate had – and practically River Plate was unable to beat them! A bad omen for things to come perhaps, but at the moment everything was great – River Plate concurred Copa Libertadores and won the Argentine championship. The squad had so much talent, it could be argued this was one of the best squads ever, along with ‘La machina’. A plethora of old and new World champions, various stars of lesser fame, Uruguayan greats, future stars – talented players like Troglio and Goycochea, who will became famous names in the coming years. Enzo Francescoli went to France, but the absence of ‘the Prince’ upset absolutely nothing. Given the talent River Plate had at this time, it was only just they won Copa Libertadores – no other South American club had similarly strong and deep squad.
But great players need a great coach and probably long-haired and still very young Hector Veira deserves the credit: he managed to organize, motivate, and steer conflicting egos into a successful team. His great sense, if sometimes peculiar, humor helped as well. Why Veira was replaced in 1987 is a mystery – his famous trial for rape of minor boy seemingly came a bit later. Why players were sold one after another is understandable – even River Plate was in great need of money. So, from the distance of time, it is easy to say that 1986 was the pinnacle of a short-lived great team. It is a shame it was not longer run – this River squad could have been one of the most memorable teams of all time. But that was it fate – to be short-lived and barely noticed outside Argentina. There was a big relief for the veteran Norberto Alonso, who was the body and soul of River Plate for so many years to win internationally with his beloved team. Later he said ‘this was the last great Argentinian side I’ve seen.’ It was true, as it happens, but River Plate had as many enemies as it had supporters: even Copa Libertadores was not fully enough to lift the old stigma of losers. To really bury the chicken, to get rid of the mocking nickname completely, more was needed.