1962 Copa Libertadores Explained

Tourney Name:Copa de Campeones de América
Year:1962
Dates:February 7 - August 30
Num Teams:10
Confederations:9
Champion Other: Santos
Count:1
Second Other: Peñarol
Matches:26
Goals:107
Top Scorer: Coutinho
Alberto Spencer
Enrique Raymondi
(6 goals each)
Prevseason:1961
Nextseason:1963

The 1962 Copa de Campeones de América was the third edition of South America's premier club football tournament. Ten teams entered, one more than the previous season, with Venezuela again not sending a representative. This was the first edition in which the defending champions qualified automatically, allowing the nation which contained the holders to have an extra team in the tournament.

Santos ended the Carboneros reign, as they defeated Peñarol 0–3 in the deciding playoff in Buenos Aires.

Qualified teams

width=125Countrywidth=150Teamwidth=300Qualification method
CONMEBOL
1 berth
Peñarol1961 Copa Libertadores de América winners

1 berth
Racing1961 Primera División champion

1 berth
Deportivo Municipal1961 Bolivian Primera División champion

1 berth
Santos1961 Taça Brasil champion

1 berth
Universidad Católica1961 Primera División champion

1 berth
Millonarios1961 Campeonato Profesional champion

1 berth
Emelec1961 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol champion
Paraguay
1 berth
Cerro Porteño1961 Primera División champion

1 berth
Sporting Cristal1961 Primera División champion

1 berth
Nacional1961 Primera División runner-up

Format and tie-breaking criteria

This season saw the competition have an increase in participants by one team; as a result, the preliminary round from the previous season was eliminated. The first phase was now a group phase with three groups containing three clubs each. The format for the semifinals and the finals remained the same.

At each stage of the tournament, teams received 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and no points for a loss. If two or more teams were equal on points, the following criteria was applied to determine the ranking in the group stage:

  1. a one-game playoff;
  2. superior goal difference;
  3. draw of lots.

Starting this edition, a playoff would become the first tie-breaker, then goal difference.

First round

Nine teams were drawn into three groups. In each group, teams played against each other home-and-away. The top team in each group advanced to the semifinals. Peñarol, the title holders, had a bye to the next round.

Group 1

width=175 Teamwidth=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20
Santos4310206147
Cerro Porteño4112614-83
Deportivo Municipal4103814-62

Group 2

width=175 Teamwidth=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20
Nacional43109637
Racing411278-13
Sporting Cristal410357-22

Group 3

width=175 Teamwidth=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20
Universidad Católica421110915
Emelec4202121024
Millonarios4112710-33

Semifinals

Four teams were drawn into two groups. In each group, teams played against each other home-and-away. The top team in each group advanced to the Finals.

Group A

width=175 Teamwidth=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20
Santos211021+13
Universidad Católica201112−11

Group B

width=175 Teamwidth=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20
Peñarol210143+12
Nacional210134−12
Peñarol progressed to the finals due to better goal difference.

Finals

See main article: 1962 Copa Libertadores Finals.

width=175 Teamwidth=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20
Santos21014402
Peñarol21014402

Top goalscorers

PosPlayerTeamGoals
align=center rowspan=31 Coutinho Santos6
Alberto Spencer Peñarol6
Enrique Raymondi Emelec6
align=center rowspan=32 Pelé Santos4
Alberto Fouilloux Universidad Católica4
Luis Aguilera Municipal4

External links