That Was The Year That Was

As 2011 draws to a close the CONMEBalls team would like to thank in no particular order

Premier Sports TV – For their support and continued coverage of South American Football in the UK

Will Downing – For the late nights covering the games

Jon Cotterill – For his help during the year and having what would be my dream job

Bira Brasil – For the continuous mentions after we’ve tweeted in during the live games

All our colleagues and friends who also have great websites that pretty much cover what we do and a little bit more as well (see the links section) and if we've missed you off please don't be offended. We love you all.

And most importantly you, the people who take the time to read what we write. We thank you for your continued support.

After this weeks Ex-Pat of the Week we will be taking a short break until the State League action gets underway in Brazil in mid-January and the Copa Libertadores qualifying round towards the end of the month. We look forward to bringing you all the action again in 2012. Our sister site, Euroballs will continue to operate while we hit the beach for some well deserved rest and relaxation.

If you have an interest in a particular area of South American football and would like to share your passion for the Peruvian/Chilean/whichever league, we’d be very happy to accommodate you.

Finally, from all the team at CONMEBalls, we would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2012.

Recopa Sudamericana 2nd leg

Internacional 3-1 Independiente
3-3 on points, Internacional wins on goal difference

Last night at the Beira-Rio, Brazil's Internacional were crowned 2011 Recopa Sudamericana champions after defeating Independiente of Argentina 3-1 to lift their second title after their 2007 success.

In form Leandro Damião put Inter ahead with twenty minutes gone when he beat two defenders and fired a shot across the goal and into the far corner. Five minutes later Damião made it two when he took advantage of a mistake in the Independiente defence to volley over goalkeeper Hilario Navarro.

Independiente changed their tactics at half time and it had an almost immediate effect, four minutes after the break Maxi Velázquez, who had opened the scoring a fortnight ago in Buenos Aires, cut inside to take a pass and beat goalkeeper Muriel. The visitors then almost levelled but Muriel managed to keep out Marco Perez. With extra time looming Internacional settled the tie when Kléber converted from the spot six minutes from time after Navarro had brought down substitute Jô.

Recopa Sudamericana - First Leg

Independiente 2-1 Internacional

The Recopa Sudamericana pits the winners of the two intercontinental competitions from the previous year as Copa Sudamericana holders Independiente met last years Libertadores winners Internacional of Brazil in Avellaneda.

Inter took the lead and got an away goal eight minutes before the break when Leandro Damião slid in to put the ball over the advancing Hilario Navarro. Five minutes later Independiente were back in the game when defender Maxi Velázquez headed the home side level. The home side completed their comeback eighteen minutes from time when a Marcos Pérez free kick took a deflection and wrongfooted Muriel.

The second leg takes place at the Beira-Rio in two weeks time.

LDU take Recopa honours

Estudiantes 0-0 LDU Quito
LDU Quito wins 4-1 on points

Ecuador's LDU Quito retained the Recopa Sudamericana on Wednesday when they held Estudiantes of Argentina to a 0-0 draw in the second leg to record a 4-1 victory on points. Estudiantes who qualified as the winners of the 2009 Libertadores whilst LDU Quito made it after victory over Fluminense in the Copa Sudamericana.

It is LDU's fourth continental trophy in two years after they won the Libertadores Cup in 2008, the Recopa against Internacional last year plus the previous mentioned Sudamericana success. The match held in Quilmes, due to the unavailability of Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi, was one-sided but Estudiantes were unable to find a way through the stubborn LDU Quito rearguard. Ultimately it was the double strike from Hernan Barcos a fortnight ago which saw LDU claim the title.

Recopa Sudamericana 1st Leg

LDU Quito 2-1 Estudiantes

This is the South American Super Cup, played between the winners of the previous years Libertadores and Sudamericana. LDU are actually defending the title that they won last year after a comfortable victory over Internacional and welcomed last years Libertadores winners Estudiantes to the Estadio Casa Blanca. All the goals came in a frantic opening 17 minutes and LDU nudged themselves ahead in the tie. Hernan Barcos headed LDU ahead with only 8 minutes on the clock after Cristian Lara had got round the outside of the visitors defence to get the cross in. The visitors were level four minutes later, a free kick causing confusion in the LDU penalty area and defender Marco Rojo took the initiative to fire home.

The game still didn't settle down and five minute later LDU grabbed what turned out to be the winner, a poor clearance was pounced on by Hernan Barcos and he fired home past Cesar Taborda's near post. It wasn't the best piece of goalkeeping you are ever likely to see. The second leg for this one takes place in Quilmes in a fortnight due to the renovations at the Estadio Ciudad de La Plata.

This game is also played to the same rules as the finals of the other two CONMEBOL club competitions, away goals don't count and if we are level at the end of 90 minutes next week we will have extra time and penalties if needed.