Five-star LDU crush Fluminense in First Final in Copa Sudamericana 2009

Five-star LDU crush Fluminense

(PA) Thursday 26 November 2009 - FIFA,com

A hat-trick by Edison Mendez helped Liga Deportiva Universitaria come from a goal down to beat Fluminense 5-1 in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana final.

The 30-year-old Ecuador midfielder was crucial for Jorge Fossati's side, who claimed a convincing lead over the Brazilians with a superb performance ahead of the second leg next Wednesday. Fluminense were ahead just 20 seconds after kick-off at the Estadio Casa Blanca in Quito. Liga keeper Alexander Dominguez failed to grasp a shot from Fred, and Diguinho picked up the loose ball before firing in a left-foot shot.

Liga were back on level terms after 20 minutes thanks to Mendez, who latched onto a pass from striker Claudio Bieler and smashed a powerful right-foot drive past goalkeeper Rafael. The home side had another chance to score 11 minutes later but Rafael saved well from Mendez before Neicer Reasco headed the rebound over the crossbar.

Mendez made it 2-1 a minute before the interval when he smashed in a tremendous strike after his initial free-kick had come back off a defender. The midfielder then completed his hat-trick 15 minutes into the second half by heading home a cross from Reasco. Franklin Salas grabbed a fourth for Liga after 77 minutes, turning in a cross from Mendez, before Ulises de la Cruz rounded off the scoring with a shot from distance.

Mendez told Fox Sports afterwards: "I am very happy, not for my goals but because the team came back (from a goal down). It is a good advantage. We are all aware of that, but we have played the first 90 minutes only and we have to keep working hard ahead of the second leg in Rio de Janeiro."

Defender De la Cruz added: "The team have managed to get on very well in both defence and attack. We have self-confidence. To lose this final would be weird because all of this team have done well in the championship. We are a serious, well-ordered team. We have scored a lot of goals and conceded just a few. That is the difference."

The 2009 Recopa Sudamericana

The 2009 Recopa Sudamericana was the 17th edition of the match-up contested between the winners of CONMEBOL's two continental tournaments. It was contested by the 2008 Copa Libertadores champion, Ecuadorian club Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito, and the winner of the 2008 Copa Sudamericana, Brazilian club Sport Club Internacional.
LDU Quito won both games of the Recopa 1–0 and 3–0, respectively. This their first Recopa Sudamericana title and their second international title.

2008 Copa Libertadores Final

The 2008 Copa Libertadores Final was a two-legged football match-up to determine the 2008 Copa Libertadores champion. The series was contested between Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito from Quito, Ecuador, and Fluminense Football Club from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, both of whom were playing in their first finals. The first leg was played at LDU Quito's home field, La Casa Blanca in Quito, Ecuador on June 25, 2008; the second leg was played at Fluminense's home field, Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on July 2, 2008. LDU Quito won the final on penalties 3–1, after each team won a game apiece, and eqaulized on goal difference after the end of extra-time of the second leg.

Group 8 of the Second Stage

Final Group 8 standings
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Fluminense	6	4	1	1	11	3	+8	13
LDU Quito	6	3	1	2	10	5	+5	10
Arsenal	6	3	0	3	6	14	−8	9
Libertad	6	1	0	5	5	10	−5	3

Fluminense and LDU Quito both started in the Second Stage and were drawn into Group 8 along with Arsenal of Argentina and Libertad of Paraguay. Their first match was against each other in La Casa Blanca in Quito. The game ended in a goal-less draw.
LDU Quito then hosted Libertad on March 4. Patricio Urrutia and Joffre Guerrón scored for LDU Quito to give them a 2–0 win. They then visited Arsenal in Buenos Aires on March 12. Patricio Urrutia scored the loan goal of the game. The roles were reversed as LDU Quito hosted Arsenal on March 26. Liga walloped Arsenal 6–1 with goals by Patricio Urrutia, Damián Manso, Luis Bolaños (2), Claudio Bieler, and Alfonso Obregón; Luciano Leguizamón scored for Arsenal. On April 8, Liga travelled to Asuncion to play Libertad, where they lost 3–1. Alfonso Obregón scored the lone goal for Liga.
After the first game against Liga, Fluminense hosted Arsenal on March 5. The drubbing ended 6–0 in favor of Flu. Thiago Neves, Dodô (2), Gabriel, Washington, and Cícero provided the socres. Flu then travlled to Asuncion to face Libertad on March 19. Washington scored twice to give Flu a 2–1 win. Flu then played host for Libertad in a game that ended in a 2–0 win for Fluminense. Cícero and Thiago Silva provided the scores. Fluminense then travlled to Buenos Aires to play Arsenal on April 8. They were beat 2–0.
The last match of group play for LDU Quito and Fluminense was against each other on April 17. Cícero scored the only goal of the game to give Fluminense a 1–0 win. The win gave Fluminense the group. Fluminense and LDU Quito finished 1 & 2 with 13 and 10 points, respectively, and each advanced to the Round of 16 as the 1st and 11th seed.
Fluminense in the knockout stage
Fluminense was seeded 1 for the knockout stage, guaranteeing home field advantage for the second leg of any series. In the round of 16, they faced Atlético Nacional of Colombia, whom they defeated on aggregate 3-1 (2-1 & 1-0). In the quarter-finals, they faced fellow Brazilian side São Paulo. They won on aggregate 3-2 (0-1 & 3-1). In the semi-finals, they face defending Copa Libertadores champions Boca Juniors. After tying 2-2 on the first leg, the won 3-1 in the second leg to advance to their first Copa Libertadores finals.
LDU Quito in the knockout stage
LDU Quito was seeded 12 for the knockout stage. In the Round of 16, they faced Estudiantes, whom they beat on aggregate 3-2 (2-0 & 1-2) to advance. They faced another Argentine team, San Lorenzo in the quarter-finals. After tying 1-1 in both legs, the teams went into penalties, where LDU Quito triumphed 5-3. In the semi-finals, they faced Club América of Mexico. They tied both legs 1-1 in Mexico City and 0-0 in Quito. Since LDU Quito scored an away goal, they won the series and advanced to their first Copa Libertadores finals.

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Finals summary

First leg
The First Leg was played in front of a capacity crowd at La Casa Blanca in Quito. Claudio Bieler of LDU Quito scored first in the 2nd minute, but Fluminense answered back with a goal by Conca in the 12th minute. LDU Quito scored three unanswered goals by the end of the half with goals by Joffre Guerrón (29'), Jairo Campos (34'), and Patricio Urrutia (45'). Thiago Neves scored again for Fluminenese with the only goal of the second half at the 52nd minute. The final score left LDU Quito with a 2-goal advantage going into the next leg.

Second leg
Maracanã match.
The Second Leg was played in front of a capacity crowd at the legendary Maracanã in a game that would crown the South American champions. Luis Bolaños of LDU Quito scored first in the 6th minute to put LDU Quito up 1–0 in the game, and 3 goal advantage. Fluminense answered back with a hat-trick by Thiago Neves, who scored goals in the 12th, 28th, and 56th minute. The score at the end of regulation was 3–1, leaving both teams equal on goal difference; extra-time was needed. After a scoreless extra-time, the game went on to a penalty shootout. LDU Quito goalkeeper José Francisco Cevallos blocked three of four penalty kicks, while his teammates put in three of four to give LDU Quito the win, and their first Copa Libertadores title.

Aftermath
Prior to the matches, Fluminense was favored to win since they had eliminated the defending champion (Boca Juniors) in the semi-finals, and defeated LDU Quito in an earlier encounter at Maracanã. Following the surprise loss in Quito, pressure was on Fluminense to win at home. When LDU Quito sealed the deal at Maracanã, the media dubbed the match a "Maracanazo", a slang term in Latin American soccer given to a game at Maracanã where the underdog team upsets the hosts. The hosts were so expected to be win, that the celebratory confetti for the award presentation was in Fluminense's color.
LDU Quito had won their first Copa Libertadores title, becoming the first Ecuadorian team to do so. The title is also the first international title ever won by a team from Ecuador. LDU Quito captain Patricio Urrutia was named player of the finals, and Joffre Guerrón was named player of the tournament. By winning the tournament, LDU Quito won the right to represent South American in the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup, for which they qualify directly to the semi-finals. LDU Quito winning the Copa Libertadores was called historic by major newspapers that followed the competition, and won praise throughout the continent.
Throughout the tournament, the team and its player gained wide support from across Ecuador, not just by their typical fan-base in Quito. Following the win, they were publicly applauded by every sector of Ecuadorian society and government, and were treated as heroes upon their return to the country.
Currently, this year's finals hold or shares two Copa Libertadores Finals records: most goals in a single game (6) for Game 1; most goals in two legs (10).