Boca Juniors win Copa Libertadores

by Rocwood

copa libertadores logo
Boca Juniors – 2007 Copa Libertadores Winners.

Boca Juniors has won the Copa Libertadores after two Juan Roman Riquelme second half goals. The Argentinians won with a total 5-0 on aggregate the final against Brazilian rivals Gremio Porto Alegre, Ronaldinho’s first club.

Riquelme, the Argentinian midfielder played his last game at Boca. His loan from Spanish side Villareal expires this summer and Riquelme will return to Spain. He first scored in the 69th minute with a long range shot. The 2nd goal came nine minutes from time after a rebound. The chance of a 3-0 win was missed by famous Boca Juniors striker Martin Palermo, who missed a penalty kick in the 85th minute. Palermo is also known from an incredible Copa America final, when he missed 3 penalty kicks in the same game.

The win over Gremio rounds up the 6th Copa Libertadores trophy for Boca. The record is though holed by their compatriots Independiente with seven titles. The second leg of the final was played at Gremio’s home place, where 45,000 spectators hoped for a miracle after their favourites 3-0 defeat in Argentina.

Boca encountered hostility in Brazil
First some brazilians fans wanted to do everything in order to make their favourite club an easier game and decided to let off firecrackers in front of the hotel, where Boca’s staff was sleeping. After that on the stadium the Argentinian national anthem was
whistled by the home crowd. But all this couldn’t lead Gremio to a much desired victory. Their only major chance was when Diego Souza hit the crossbar just before half time. Rolando Schiavi’s header hit the post after the break and Diego Souza’s missed the rebound, signing a second major scoring chance for Boca. And this was the last Gremio chance before Riquelme’s fiesta began.