South America’s Best Comebacks in History:
In light of the recent historic comeback Barcelona accomplished in the Champions round of Sixteens. We review (in no particular order) some of South American football’s greatest come backs:
1. Universidad de Chile (CHI) v Deportivo de Quito (ECU), Round of Sixteens, Copa Libertadores 2012.
Frist leg: Deportivo Quito 4-1 Universidad de Chile
Second leg: Universidad de Chile 6-0 Deportivo Quito
(Guess who had already received 4 goals in the first and then turned around and scored 6 at home, yup south americans (; Ignore my editorializing)
The Chileans had received 4 goals in their away and only managed to pull back one of their own. They needed to give a strong performance at home to turn the result around. By the 35′ of the second leg, U of Chile had scored the 3 goals to tie the global score. The second half brought 3 mora goals, and an amazing comeback from the Universidad de Chile. Final result: 7-4
Highlights here
2. Sporting Cristal (PER) vs El Nacional (ECU), Round of Sixteens, Copa Libertadores 1993.
First Leg: El Nacional 3-0 Sporting Cristal.
Second Leg: Sporting Cristal 4-0 El Nacional.
The Peruvian team suffered a strong defeat against El Nacional of Ecuador. The Peruvians had a difficult panorama, but they didn't care much and focused on the home game, which ended up 4-0, giving Sporting Cristal the ticket to Quarter Finals. Final result: 4-3
Highlights here
3. River Plate (ARG) vs Cruzeiro (BRA), Quarter Finals, Copa Libertadores 2015.
First leg: River Plate 0-1 Cruzeiro.
Second leg: Cruzeiro 0-3 River Plate.
The pepper spray incidents left the Argentinian team without its fire, and after a dull game and defeat in home, they had to face a tough Cruzeiro in Brazil, which personally for River, no Brazilian team has been easy, much less in their home. La Banda had to play a perfect game, and so they did. In a spectacular display of high pressure and attacking football, the Argentinian side closed all the space they had left in the first leg. 0-3 was the result, giving River Plate the pass to Semi Finals. Final result: 3-1
Highlights here, full match here
4. Rosario Central (ARG) vs Atlético Mineiro (BRA), Final, Copa Conmebol 1995.
First leg: Atlético Mineiro 4-0 Rosario Central
Second leg: Rosario Central 4-0 Atlético Mineiro
Penalties: Rosario Central 4-3 Atlético Mineiro
Unbelievable, after losing 4-0 in the away game, Rosario Central showed that you're not dead if you give fight, and also gave back the 4 goals to Mineiro, taking the game to the penalties. El Canalla won 4-3, and got its first international title. Final result: 4(4) - 4(3)
Full match here
5. Junior de Barranquilla (COL) vs Millonarios (COL) , semifinal Torneo Finalización 2011
Frist leg: Millonarios 3-0 Junior de Barranquilla
Second Leg: Junior de Barranquilla 3-0 Millonarios
Penalties: Junior de Barranquilla 5-4 Millonarios
Another two way tie. Millonarios of Colombia had beat Juniors by 3-0 at home and was looking at what they thought was an early celebration of the semifinal for the local league tournament. But Junior was decided to fight back in their home turf, turning around the result and tying the series. Junior beat out Millonarios in the penalty shootout and moved on to the finals.
Highlights here
6. Unión Española (CHI) v Puerto Montt. (CHI), Promoción 2008.
First leg: Unión Española 2-1 Puerto Montt.
Second leg: Puerto Montt. 3- 3 Unión Española
Unión Española on the verge of losing it’s place in first division faced the hopeful Puerto Montt., who were looking to make their own history. Unión showed that they were first division material by imposing a 2-1 victory at home. In the away game things took a turn. Puerto Montt. proved they were not going to make it easy for Unión and scored 3, putting the score board 3-0 in their favor. Unión fans could feel the second division closer and closer, their dreams of staying in first division taken their from under their feet. Unión who were not only losing by 3 goals, but were also about to lose their spot in first division found the courage to turn the game around, scoring three goals in their favor and tying the game. And so through the agony, Unión Española avoided the relegation. Final result: 5-4
Highlights here (Best video I could find because matches like these are remembered by few)
7. América de Cali (COL) vs. Gremio (BRA), Semifinal Libertadores 1996
First Leg: Gremio 1- 0 America de Cali
Second Leg: Gremio 1-3 America de Cali
América de Cali, who lost the first leg in Porto Alegre, needed a win at home to pass to the finals. Gremio had dominated the first game, and missed many chances to further the lead. By the 6th minute of play of the second leg, Gremio was up by one and seemingly determined to go to the finals themselves. But as the spanish saying goes no esta muerto quien pelea (he who fights is not dead), Cali continued to push forward. With two goal from Jorge Bermúdez, a defender, and one by Escobar at the 79th minute. Cali manages to pull through at make their way to the finals against River Plate. (which River wins but ignore me). Final result: 3-2
Highlights here
8. América de México (MEX) v Flamengo (BRA), Round of Sixteens Libertadores 2008
First leg: America de Mexico 2-4 Flamengo
Second leg: Flamengo 0- 3 America de Mexico
Brazilian teams are always to be feared, and even more so playing in Brazil. The América of Mexico, found out just how hard it can be to beat them when they l fell 2-4 at their own stadium. With a hard score board to beat, and the add difficulty of beating a Brazilian team in Brazil, America was decided to pass. With a miraculous 3-0 in their away game, the Mexican side did what few south american teams do, win by a large margen in Brazil. Final result: 5-4
First leg highlights here, second leg highlights here
9. Olimpia (PAR) v River Plate (ARG), Round of Sixteens Supercopa 1990
First leg: River Plate 3- 0 Olimpia
Second leg: Olimpia 3 - 0 River Plate
Penalties: Olimpia 4- 3 River Plate
Although Olimpia had received three goals in River’s Monumental, the result was not closed. And has the Argentinian team would later understand, playing in Paraguay was no simple task. Olimpia gave thier fans a night to remember by tying the series and beating River in the penalty shootout. Final result: 3(4)- 3(3)
Highlights here
10. River Plate (ARG) v Botafogo (BRA), Sudamericana 2007
First leg: Botafogo 1- 0 River Plate
Second leg: River Plate 4 - 2 Botafogo
River lost in Brazil, and by the 11′ had conceded a goal at home. Botafogo was going to eliminate River in the Monumental. But just as playing in Brazil, Argentina’s locality is no small thing. With a historic night for Ortega and Falcao, they tied the game putting it 1-1 (and 1-2 global). But the Monu when back into a state of worry when at the 58′ the defender Lussenhoff was given a red card (Botafogo was already playing with player less). Just a few minutes later with more space in the back Botafogo socred thier second goal. At the 73′ Oscar Ahumada saw River’s second red card. But the night was not over, and Falcao with an amazing shot from over side the box again tied the score. The combianation of Ortega and Rios was too much for the Brazilian defense as Rios puts River head 3-2 (global 3-3). The game is about to end and 90+2, Falcao completes his hattrick to imposes the 4-2. Final result: 4-3
Highlights here
