2009 Copa Sudamericana Finals
The 2009 Copa Sudamericana Finals was a two-legged football match-up to determine the 2009 Copa Sudamericana champion. It was contested by Ecuadorian club LDU Quito and Brazilian club Fluminense. Both teams were playing in their first Copa Sudamericana finals. The first leg was played in Estadio Casa Blanca in Quito on November 25, and the host team won it 5-1. The second leg was played in Estádio Mário Filho, better known as Maracanã, in Rio de Janeiro on December 2, and the host team won it 3-0, but LDU Quito won 5-4 on aggregate and was crowned as the champion. Coincidentally, the finals were a rematch of the 2008 Copa Libertadores Finals, which was contested under similar circumstances 17 months prior to the day.
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| Event | 2009 Copa Nissan Sudamericana de Clubes | ||||||
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| First leg | |||||||
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| Date | November 25, 2009 | ||||||
| Venue | Estadio Casa Blanca, Quito | ||||||
| Man of the Match | Édison Méndez | ||||||
| Referee | Roberto Silvera (Uruguay) | ||||||
| Attendance | 55,000 | ||||||
| Second leg | |||||||
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| Date | December 2, 2009 | ||||||
| Venue | Estádio Mário Filho (Maracanã), Rio de Janeiro | ||||||
| Man of the Match | Claudio Bieler | ||||||
| Referee | Carlos Amarilla (Paraguay) | ||||||
| Attendance | 65,822 | ||||||
Qualified teams
| Team | Previous finals appearances (bold indicates winners) |
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Rules
The final is played over two legs; home and away. The higher seeded team plays the second leg at home. The team that accumulates the most points —three for a win, one for a draw, zero for a loss— after the two legs is crowned the champion. The away-goals rule is not used. Should the two teams be tied on points after the second leg, the team with the best goal difference wins. If the two teams have equal goal difference, extra time is used. The extra time consists of two 15-minute halves. If the tie is still not broken, a penalty shoot-out ensues according to the Laws of the Game.
Route to the finals
Both teams entered the competition in the First Stage. Fluminense qualified after finishing 14th in the 2008 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. LDU Quito qualified after finishing second in the First Stage of the 2009 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol Serie A.
Fluminense's route
Fluminense's First Stage was bitter cross-town rival Flamengo. Both matches of the Fla-Flu in the tournament were held Maracanã, and both ended in a draw (0–0 and 1–1, respectively). Fluminense, as the designated away in the second leg, advanced on an away goal by Roni. For winning Qualifier O5 of the First Stage, Fluminense was awarded the 5 seed for the Round of 16 onward.
Their Round of 16 rival was Peruvian club Alianza Atlético. The first leg, held in Estadio Miguel Grau in Piura, ended in a 2–2 draw. Flu's goals were scored by Luiz Alberto and Conca. The second leg, held in Maracanã, ended in a decisive 4–1 for Fluminense. Conca, Alan, and Adeílson (twice) made the scores for the Brazilians, and passage to the Quarterfinals.
Their Quarterfinals rival was Chilean club Universidad de Chile. The first leg, at Maracanã, ended in another draw (2–2). Fred scored twice for Fluminense. In the second leg, held at Estadio Santa Laura in Santiago, Fred scored the lone goal of the match to give Fluminense passage to the Semifinals.
Fluminense's Semifinal rival was Paraguayan club Cerro Porteño. The first leg was held at Estadio General Pablo Rojas, nicknamed La Olla, in Asunción, and ended in a 1–0 for Fluminense. Fred scored his fourth goal in three matches for the advantage. In the second leg at Maracanã, Fluminense trailed for most of the game thanks to a Cerro Porteño goal by Luis Cáceres. However, Gum and Alan each scored a goal for Fluminense in stoppage time of the second half to give Flu the win and passage to the Finals.
LDU Quito's route
LDU Quito's First Stage rival was Paraguayan club Libertad. The first leg, held in Estadio Casa Blanca in Quito, ended in a 1–0 win for Liga. Team captain Néicer Reasco scored the goal for the home team. The second leg, held back in Asunción at the Estadio Defensores del Chaco, ended in a 1–1 tie. Édison Méndez scored the come from behind goal for Liga to give them passage to the Round of 16, and the 10 seed.
Liga played the Round of 16 against Argentine club Lanús. The first leg, held in Quito, was a goal-fest for Liga. A hat-trick by Claudio Bieler and a goal by Édison Méndez gave LDU Quito a 4–0 win and a significant advantage in the next leg. The second leg, held in Estadio Ciudad de Lanús, ended in a 1–1 draw. Claudio Bieler again scored for Liga.
LDU Quito Quarterfinal rival was defending Argentine champion Vélez Sarsfield. The first leg, held in Estadio José Amalfitani in Buenos Aires, ended in a 1–1 draw. Claudio Bieler again scored for Liga, who were trailing to give them the draw. The second leg, held back in Quito, ended in 2–1 win for the home team. Initially trailing 1–0, goals by Enrique Vera and Carlos Espínola gave LDU Quito passage to the Semifinals.
Liga's Semifinal rival was Uruguayan club River Plate. The first leg, held at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, ended in a 2–1 loss for LDU Quito. Édison Méndez scored the lone goal for Liga. The second leg, held back in Quito, ended in a hugely one-sided 7–0 win for LDU Quito. The goals were provided by Claudio Bieler (hat-trick), Carlos Espínola, Miller Bolaños, Édison Méndez, and Ulises de la Cruz.
Summary
| Fluminense | LDU Quito | ||||
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H 0–0 | First Stage First leg |  H 1–0 | Néicer Reasco | ||
A 1–1 | Roni | Second leg | A 1–1 | Édison Méndez | |
 A 2–2 | Luiz Alberto Darío Conca | Round of 16 First leg |  H 4–0 | Claudio Bieler (3) Édison Méndez | |
H 4–1 | Conca Alan Adeílson (2) | Second leg | A 1–1 | Claudio Bieler | |
 H 2–2 | Fred (2) | Quarterfinals First leg | A 1–1 | Claudio Bieler | |
A 0–1 | Fred | Second leg | H 2–1 | Enrique Vera Carlos Espínola | |
A 0–1 | Fred | Semifinals First leg |  A 2–1 | Édison Méndez | |
H 2–1 | Gum Alan | Second leg | H 7–0 | Claudio Bieler (3) Édison Méndez Carlos Espínola Miller Bolaños Ulises de la Cruz | |
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Matches
First leg
The first leg, played at Estadio Casa Blanca in Quito, began much like it did in 2008: with a quick goal. This time, Fluminense quickly struck first with a goal by Marquinho in the first minute. Liga answered back with a hat-trick by Édison Méndez, who made two powerful long-range shots (21' and 44') and a header (60'). He later assisted in Franklin Salas' goal in the 78th minute. Ulises de la Cruz capped off the scoring with another long-range shot from outside the box in the 87th minute. The win gives Liga a favorable 4 goal advantage going into the second leg.
| LDU Quito | 5–1 | |
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Méndez  Salas de la Cruz |
Report | Marquinho |
        LDU Quito
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   Fluminense
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Man of the Match:
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Second leg
The match started with a goal scored by Diguinho in the 14th minute. When LDU Quito player Ulises de la Cruz was given a red card in the 18th minute, Fluminense increased the pressure on the Ecuadorian. Two minutes before the half-time, Fred scored the second for Fluminense. At half-time, Fluminense curiously stayed on the pitched. The second half continued with Fluminense continuing the pressure. Gum scored the third for the Brazilian in the 72nd minute. The match grew more intensive as the match continued. Fluminense captain Fred was sent-off in the 76th minute for arguing and touching the referee. LDU Quito defender Jairo Campos was shown his second yellow card 82nd minute and was ejected. With LDU Quito left with 9 players and Fluminense left with 10, Fluminense continued their search for the fourth goal, which would have sent the game into extra-time. Fluminense never got the goal, and LDU Quito was crowned the Copa Sudamericana champion for the first time.
     Fluminense
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 LDU Quito
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Man of the Match:
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