Libertadores Cup. The draw did not play any tricks this year and consequently there were no surprises in the group stage. Chile and Venezuela were in Group 1 and the Chileans qualified: 1. Universidad Catolica, 2. Colo-Colo, 3. Sport Maritimo, 4. U. A . Tachira. Group 2 – Argentina and Ecuador: 1. Newell’s Old Boys, 2. San Lorenzo, 3. Barcelona, 4. Filanbanco. Group 3 – it was the toughest: Colombia and Uruguay.1. America, 2. Nacional,3. Millonarios, 4. Montevideo Wanderers. Group 4 – Bolivia and Paraguay. If there was a surprise, it was here – the Paraguayans failed. 1. Oriente Petrolero, 2. Bolivar, 3. Cerro Porteno, 4. Olimpia. Group 4 – Brazil and Peru. 1. Guarani, 2. Univeristario, 3. Sport Recife, 4. Alianza. Alianza (Lima) lost its team in an airplane catastrophe in December 1987 and had no time to recover – even Teofilo Cubillas came out of retirement to help, but miracle was not about to happen and it did not. For their last match Alianza did not have a coach – Moises Barack had resigned. In general, it was clear that South American football suffered by export to Europe – few great players stayed in South America and one painful result was the absence of great clubs – Penarol, River Plate, Boca Juniros, Flamengo, the other famous Brazilian clubs… As far as names were an issue, this Copa Libertadores vintage was almost anonymous.
In the second phase Universidad Catolica – Nacional 1-1 and 0-1, America – Universitario 1-0 and 2-2, Oriente Petrolero – Colo-Colo 2-1 and 0-0, San Lorenzo – Guarani 1-1 and 1-0. Bolivar and Newell’s Old Boys was most dramatic – the Bolivians won at home 1-0, but lost with the same result away and penalty shoot-out followed. In it Newell’s Old Boys prevailed 3-2.
Third phase: now the 1987 Cup holders – Penarol – entered. And were eliminated immediately by San Lorenzo 0-0 and 0-1. Newell’s Old Boys faced Nacional: the first leg ended 1-1, the second – 2-1 Nacional. America had little trouble against Oriente Petrolero – 1-1 and 2-0.
And now a curious thing happened – South America always had difficulties in structuring tournaments, for the countries on the continent are so few. A ‘normal’ formula was practically impossible and weird rules were frequently used. This year radical changes were made: for the first time a winner was decided by goal-difference. In case of a tie, extra-time was played and after that – a penalty shoot-out. There was no more third final match on neutral ground in case the normal legs were won by each opponent. The current Cup holder entered the third stage. Which meant only 3 teams were going directly to the semifinals… the old, old problem of odd numbers. It was not good, a 4th team had to be added – and it was Newell’s Old Boys. Why? Hard to tell… may be on combined record so far – better than the other eliminated in the Third phase teams.
In the semi-finals Newell’s Old Boys met the other Argentine team, San Lorenzo. And beat them twice 1-0 and 2-1. In the same time Nacional played against America (Cali) and managed to overcome them 1-0 and 1-1.
Strange it was, but Nacional was meeting the same enemies again and again – they played against America (Cali) in the group stage and then at the semi-finals. They faced Newell’s Old Bous in the Third stage and now were going to meet them again in the final. And it was highly possible that the team Nacional eliminated earlier would beat them and won the final, a South American irony. The only thing in favour of Nacional was that the second leg was in Montevideo. But much depended on the first leg, played in naturally hostile Rosario.
Substitute Jorge Gabrich scored for the hosts in the 60th minute.
Instant home hero, who replaced Sergio Almiron at half-time. He materialized the hopes of club and fans for winning Copa Libertadores for the first time. However, no other goals were scored in the first leg. Newell’s Old Boys was going with small advantage to Montevideo – but with advantage. Nacional’s coach was sent off in the 51st minute, but that meant nothing – he was not suspended for the second leg.
Newell’s Old Boys emerged on Centenario determined, but…
It was jumping in hell – the stadium was full and entirely against the Argentines. And Nacional did not disappoint its helpful and demanding fans – Ernesto Vargas gave them the lad in the 13th minute.
In the 30th minute Santiago Ostolaza made it 2-0.
Hugo de Leon made it 3-0 in the 80th minute, but… rules. At the end of the regular time it was technically 1-1, for at this point not goal-difference, but wins counted. Extra-time followed, which naturally exposed the ugly side of South American football – in the 115th minute Hector Moran (Nacional) and Jorge Pautasso (Newell’s Old Boys) were sent off. Nobody scored in extra-time and only now goal-difference became a factor. And Nacional won 3-1.
1st Leg [Rosario; att: 45,000] [Oct 19] Newell’s Old Boys Arg Nacional Uru 1-0 [Gabrich 60] [Newell’s: Scopini, Llop, Theiler, Pautasso, Sensini, Marino (Fullana 81), Franco, Alfaro, Rossi, Batistuta, Almiron (Gabrich 46);
Nacional: Sere, Pintos Saldanha, Revelez, De Leon, Soca, Lemos, Ostolaza, Cardaccio, Castro, Vargas (Carreno 89), De Lima.]
2nd Leg [Montevideo; att: 75,000] [Oct 26] Nacional Uru Newell’s Old Boys Arg 3-0 [Vargas 13, Ostolaza 36, De Leon 78] [red cards: Pautasso (Newell’s) 115, Moran (Nacional) 115] [Nacional: Sere, Pintos Saldanha, Revelez, De Leon, Soca, Lemos, Ostolaza, Cardaccio, Castro (Moran 11), Vargas (Carreno 54), De Lima; coach: Roberto Fleitas;
Newell’s: Scopini, Llop (Ramos), Theiler, Pautasso, Sensini, Marino, Franco, Alfaro (Almiron 46), Rossi, Gabrich, Batistuta; coach: Jose Yudica]
Glory to the champions of South America!
This was the best season in the history of Newell’s Old Boys (Rosario) to date – champions of Argentina and vice-champions of South America. Looking at the squad today, one would wonder how come they lost with Batistuta and Sensini, not to mention others, in the line-up – especially losing to almost anonymous Uruguayan squad. But there was nothing irregular in the loss – in fact, it was fair, considering that Nacional already prevailed over the Argentines in earlier stage. The world-famous stars were not world-famous stars yet, but a bunch of bright up and coming youngsters, still lacking experience. They were lucky to reach the final, but were not to be dismissed as just lucky – the success of 1988 was the result of a program started in 1972 by Bernardo Griffa: it was classic and simple program – develop your own talent. The club system was constructed with this aim in mind, taking care of the youth, paying close attention to the kids and introduced every talented one to the first team. The concept paid off in 1988 – it was home-grown team, full of bright youngsters bound to become great stars. As for losing Copa Libertadores – it was sad, of course, but still the biggest achievement of the club to this moment. The only trouble was objective problem: Newell’s Old Boys, as every South American club at that time, had no way of keeping its talent. So, there was no way to stay consistently strong… whatever Europe did not tale, Buenos Aires clubs did.
On the surface – nothing unusual, nothing strange: Nacional is one of the greatest South American clubs. This was their 6th Copa Libertadores final and their 3rd win. Familiar story… Uruguayans were traditionally successful. History and tradition were on their side. Yet, it was brave and unconventional victory, even miraculous – first of all, Uruguayan football was in decline, lacking both money and great talent. By the standards of the club, this vintage was quite plain. The player most praised in 1988 was their goalkeeper Jorge Sere – any bells ringing? No? Of course not and that sums it all. The miracle was Hugo de Leon, practically the only famous player in the team. In his own words, he came back from Spain heavily injured and thinking his career ended. Nacional did not think of hiring him, but he started training and cautiously the club offered him a contract. He was able to play again in the second half of the year and came back with a vengeance: what de Leon gave to the team was leadership, confidence and inspiration. And his ambition boosted the team too – he already won Copa Libertadores twice with Nacional in 1980 and Gremio (Porto Alegre) in 1983. He also felt he had a debt to pay to Nacional, thinking they lost the Intercontinental Cup in 1980 because of his absence (he was already sold to Gremio when they played againt Nottingham Forest). Loyalty made him even more ambitious, including that he was not forgetting Nacional gave him a chance a few months earlier when even he was thinking he was finished. To bring Nacional to victory was not easy at all – again according to de Leon, the situation was very different than in 1980: back then the club had money and a well made experienced team. In 1988 it was pretty modest team, which was largely made a great effort, putting everything aside just to play football. And may be because of that, it was rather unusual Uruguayan team – they played attacking football, constantly pushing ahead. Did not work in the domestic championship, but worked at international level. Hence, the 3rd Libertadores, but de Leon still had a debt to pay: the Intercontinental Cup was missing. He won it once, but not with his beloved Nacional.