1966 Copa Libertadores finals explained

1966 Copa Libertadores finals
Event:1966 Copa Libertadores
Team1:Peñarol
Team2:River Plate
Team2association:
Details:2–2 on points
Peñarol won after a play-off
Firstleg:First leg
Team1score1:2
Team2score1:0
Date1:12 May 1966
Stadium1:Estadio Centenario
City1:Montevideo
Referee1:Roberto Goicoechea (Argentina)
Attendance1:49,000
Secondleg:Second leg
Team1score2:2
Team2score2:3
Date2:18 May 1966
Stadium2:Estadio Antonio V. Liberti
City2:Buenos Aires
Referee2:José M. Codesal (Uruguay)
Attendance2:60,000
Secondlegreplay:Play-off
Team1score3:4
Team2score3:2
Details3:After extra time
Stadium3:Estadio Nacional
City3:Santiago
Referee3:Claudio Vicuña (Chile)
Attendance3:39,000
Previous:1965
Next:1967

The 1966 Copa Libertadores finals were the two-legged final that decided the winner of the 1966 Copa Libertadores, the 7th edition of the Copa Libertadores de América, South America's premier international club football tournament organized by CONMEBOL.

The finals were contested in two-legged home-and-away format between Uruguayan team Peñarol and Argentine team Club Atlético River Plate. The first leg was hosted by Peñarol at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo on 12 May 1966, while the second leg was hosted by River Plate at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on 18 May 1966.

After both teams won one match each, a third game was hosted at Estadio Nacional in Santiago de Chile on 20 May 1966. Peñarol beat River by 4–2 therefore winning their 3rd. Copa Libertadores title.[1]

Qualified teams

TeamPrevious finals appearances (bold indicates winners)
Peñarol1960, 1961, 1962, 1965
River PlateNone

Match details

First leg

GK Ladislao Mazurkiewicz
DF Pablo Forlán
DF Juan Lezcano
DF Nelson Díaz
DF Omar Caetano
MF Néstor Gonçalves
MF Julio Abadie
FW Pedro Rocha
FW Héctor Silva
FW Julio César Cortés
FW Juan Joya
Manager:
Roque Máspoli
GK Amadeo Carrizo
DF Alberto Sainz
DF J. Carlos Guzmán
DF Roberto Matosas
DF Abel Vieytez
MF Juan Carlos Sarnari
MF Daniel Bayo
MF
FW Luis Cubilla
FW Daniel Onega
FW Jorge Solari
Substitutes:
MF
Manager:
Renato Cesarini
----

Second leg

GK 1 Amadeo Carrizo
DF 4 Alberto Sainz
DF 2 J. Carlos Guzmán
DF 6 Roberto Matosas
DF 3 Abel Vieytez
MF 8 Jorge Solari
MF 5 Juan Carlos Sarnari
MF 10 Ermindo Onega
FW 7 Luis Cubilla
FW 9 Daniel Onega
FW 11 Jorge Solari
Substitutes:
FW Juan C. Lallana
Manager:
Renato Cesarini
GK 1 Ladislao Mazurkiewicz
DF 4 Pablo Forlán
DF 2 Juan Lezcano
DF3 Nelson Díaz
DF 6 Omar Caetano
MF 5 Néstor Gonçalves
MF 7 Julio Abadie
FW8 Pedro Rocha
FW9 Alberto Spencer
FW10 Julio César Cortés
FW11 Juan Joya
Manager:
Roque Máspoli
----

Playoff

GK 1 Ladislao Mazurkiewicz
DF 4 Pablo Forlán
DF 2 Juan Lezcano
DF3 Nelson Díaz
DF 6 Omar Caetano
MF 5 Néstor Gonçalves
MF 7 Julio Abbadie
FW8 Julio César Cortés
FW9 Alberto Spencer
FW10 Pedro Rocha
FW11 Juan Joya
Substitutes:
DF Tabaré González
Manager:
Roque Máspoli
GK 1 Amadeo Carrizo
DF 4
DF 2 Grispo
DF Roberto Matosas
DF 3 Abel Vieytez
MF Jorge Solari
MF Juan Carlos Sarnari
MF Ermindo Onega
FW 7 Luis Cubilla
FW Daniel Onega
FW 11 Oscar Mas
Substitutes:
FW Juan C. Lallana
Manager:
Renato Cesarini

Aftermath

The defeat in the playoff v. Peñarol (by 4–2 after River won 2–0 at the end of the first half) was quite a shock for River Plate. The team returned to Argentina to play the domestic league match v. Banfield. During the match, Banfield supporters threw a chicken (with its body painted a red sash) into the field to make fun of River Plate players.

Since that time, and up to present days, the nickname gallinas has remained to refer to River Plate when the team loses a match that could have won.[2]

Other versions refer to a lack of commitment of some River Plate players, stating that manager Renato Cesarini would have shout "I was betrayed" (by the players) after the match.[3]

At the end of the match, River Plate president Antonio Liberti blamed on Cesarini for the defeat, speaking directly to him: "I think this match was not won by Peñarol. (On the contrary), I think it was River that lost this match. In my opinion, the defeat began from the bench, with the substitutions made. The match was lost by Renato Cesarini". After listening to Liberti, Cesarini agreed with him.

Nevertheless, Liberti held goalkeeper Amadeo Carrizo responsible for the defeat with harsh words to refer to him. Liberti said: "the other responsible is that man, Carrizo... It's easy to mock the rival when conditions are favorable; but someone must know how to be brave in adverse conditions... this man was born well starred. He's the untouchable. I would like to know when he won a responsibility match in 20 years playing for the club... since he stopped that ball with his chest, the match changed... a serious players should not do silly things . To be a man, other things are necessary..."[4]

Notes and References

  1. https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copa66.html 1966 Copa Libertadores de América
  2. http://www.elgrafico.com.ar/2017/11/01/C-28967-la-final-de-1966-y-el-apodo-de-gallina-otra-derrota-dificil-de-digerir-para-river.php La final de 1966 y el apodo de Gallina, otra derrota difícil de digerir para River
  3. https://www.pasionfutbol.com/noticias/En-1966-Penarol-ganaba-su-tercera-Copa-y-River-el-apodo-de-gallina--20120520-0006.html En 1966, Peñarol ganaba su tercera Copa y River, el apodo de "gallina"
  4. http://revistauncanio.com.ar/derribando-mitos/aquel-pechito-de-carrizo/ Aquel pechito de Carrizo