2005 Conmebol Libertadores champion | OneFootball

On this July 14, São Paulo recalls winning its third South American title, achieved in 2005. São Paulo thrashed Atlético Paranaense 4-0 (the second-biggest winning margin in finals in the competition’s history—behind only another São Paulo rout: the 5-1 over Universidad Católica in 1993) and once again claimed the title of King of America.

Two-time South American champion in the Telê Santana era, with Raí, Müller and company, Tricolor let the chance of a third title slip away in 1994, in a fateful penalty shootout, and endured a hard 10 years before returning to the competition most cherished by São Paulo fans. The 2005 title was born from that hunger for victory built up over a decade.

The story began again in 2004. After setbacks in the quest for a spot in 1999, 2000 and 2002, São Paulo, with the third-place finish in the 2003 Brazilian Championship—the first in history played under the round-robin system—finally regained the right to compete in the Copa Libertadores de América.

Proving it had a very special taste for the tournament, São Paulo’s fans averaged more than 56,000 people at matches at Morumbis. Motivated, Tricolor reached the semifinals, only to be eliminated in the final minute by Colombia’s Once Caldas, the eventual champion.

It left fans wanting more. Tricolor was not satisfied. At the end of the 2004 Brasileirão, another third-place finish in the final standings and another guaranteed spot in the international competition. Now it was time to be champions! In 2005, São Paulo invested in experienced names such as holding midfielders Mineiro and Josué, and center forward Luizão. The team clicked. It led the Paulista Championship unbeaten for 15 rounds, losing its unbeaten run to Portuguesa. The title came next, against Santos (0-0), with three rounds to spare.

São Paulo had already played four matches in the first phase of the 2005 Libertadores (two wins and two draws) when there was a change in charge of the team: Emerson Leão left the head coach position and assistant Milton Cruz led the side in the fifth match (an away draw against Universidad de Chile).

São Paulo then turned to a big name to lead Tricolor to the title. He came, and arrived with complete authority: right away, at Pacaembu, a 5-1 win over Corinthians, which had nothing to do with this story. Paulo Autuori guided São Paulo forward in giant strides toward winning its third South American title.

In the knockout stage, São Paulo knocked out a traditional victim in the tournament. Palmeiras fell to Tricolor with two defeats (1-0 at Palestra Itália and 2-0 at Morumbis). In the quarterfinals, at home, a sensational performance from captain Rogério Ceni (two goals scored and even a missed penalty), 4-0 over Mexico’s Tigres. The second leg was a stroll, but it cost the team its unbeaten run in the tournament. The semifinal, however, against River Plate, brought all of Latin America to a standstill.

What Tricolor did not know was that there was a scheme involving the match referee to favor the Buenos Aires side. It made no difference: with Amoroso, newly signed, São Paulo got the job done: 2-0 at home (“El Morumbis te mata”), and 3-2 away. Fifth Libertadores final in club history!

The matches against Atlético Paranaense were played at Beira-Rio—the CAP at the time still did not have a stadium that met the regulations for the final of the international tournament—and at Morumbis. In the first leg, a 1-1 draw. The crowning moment came at Morumtri!

71,986 people witnessed another show from the “Team of Warriors,” as the three-time Libertadores champions became known after the emphatic 4-0 win. Rogério Ceni lifted the trophy and the fans set Morumbis alight with chants of “Telê, Telê”!

THE CAMPAIGN

First Phase03.03.2005 – 3 X 3 – THE STRONGEST Football Club (Bolivia)09.03.2005 – 4 X 2 – Corporación de Fútbol Profesional de la UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE (Chile)16.03.2005 – 2 X 2 – QUILMES Atlético Club (Argentina)13.04.2005 – 3 X 1 – QUILMES Atlético Club (Argentina)21.04.2005 – 1 X 1 – Corporación de Fútbol Profesional de la UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE (Chile)11.05.2005 – 3 X 0 – THE STRONGEST Football Club (Bolivia)

Round of 1618.05.2005 – 1 X 0 – Sociedade Esportiva PALMEIRAS (SP)25.05.2005 – 2 X 0 – Sociedade Esportiva PALMEIRAS (SP)

Quarterfinals01.06.2005 – 4 X 0 – TIGRES – Sinergia Deportiva de la Universidad Autónoma Nuevo León (Mexico)15.06.2005 – 1 X 2 – TIGRES – Sinergia Deportiva de la Universidad Autónoma Nuevo León (Mexico)

Semifinals22.06.2005 – 2 X 0 – Club Atlético RIVER PLATE (Argentina)29.06.2005 – 3 X 2 – Club Atlético RIVER PLATE (Argentina)

Finals06.07.2005 – 1 X 1 – Clube ATLÉTICO PARANAENSE (PR)14.07.2005 – 4 X 0 – Clube ATLÉTICO PARANAENSE (PR)

THE FIRST FINAL

06.07.2005Porto Alegre (RS)José Pinheiro Borda Stadium – Beira-Rio

Clube ATLÉTICO PARANAENSE 1 X 1 SÃO PAULO Futebol Clube

SPFC: Rogério Ceni ©; Fabão, Diego Lugano and Alex; Cicinho, Mineiro, Josué, Danilo and Junior; Amoroso and Luizão. HEAD COACH: Paulo Autuori. GOAL: Durval (own goal), 7/2

CAP: Diego; Jancarlos (André Rocha), Danilo, Durval and Marcão ©; Cocito, Alan Bahia, Fernandinho (Evandro) and Fabrício; Aloisio and Lima. HEAD COACH: Antônio Lopes. GOAL: Aloísio (header), 14/1

REFEREE: Jorge Luis Larrionda Pietrafesa (Uruguay)ASSISTANT REFEREE 1: Fernando Cresci (Uruguay)ASSISTANT REFEREE 2: Walter Rial (Uruguay)GATE RECEIPTS: UnknownATTENDANCE: Unknown

Rogério Ceni, Fabão, Lugano, Alex and Danilo; Luizão, Júnior, Amoroso, Cicinho, Mineiro and Josué

THE TITLE MATCH

14.07.2005São Paulo (SP)Cícero Pompeu de Toledo Stadium – Morumbis

SÃO PAULO Futebol Clube 4 X 0 Clube ATLÉTICO PARANAENSE

SPFC: Rogério Ceni ©; Fabão, Diego Lugano and Alex; Cicinho, Mineiro, Josué, Danilo and Junior (Fábio Santos, 40’/2); Amoroso (Diego Tardelli, 33’/2) and Luizão (Souza, 28’/2). HEAD COACH: Paulo Autuori. GOALS: Amoroso, 16’/1; Fabão, 7’/2; Luizão, 25’/2; Diego Tardelli, 43’/2.

CAP: Diego; Jancarlos, Danilo, Durval and Marcão © (Fernandinho, 15’/2); Cocito, André Rocha (Alan Bahia, 37’/2), Evandro and Fabrício; Lima (Rodrigo, 15’/2) and Aloísio. HEAD COACH: Antônio Lopes.

REFEREE: Horacio Marcelo Elizondo (Argentina)ASSISTANT REFEREE 1: Rodolfo Otero (Argentina)ASSISTANT REFEREE 2: Juan Carlos Rebollo (Argentina)GATE RECEIPTS: R$ 3,026,395.00ATTENDANCE: 71,986 paid

Turíbio de Barros, Sérgio Rocha, Rogério Ceni, Fábio Santos, Róger, Renan, Lugano, Danilo, Edcarlos, Alex and Fabão; Luizão, Aílton; Souza, Marco Antônio, Tardelli, Amoroso, Cicinho, Mineiro, Josué and Júnior

Aílton, Cícero, Michel, Mineiro, Josué, Cicinho, Vélber, Fábio Santos, Souza, Alê, Luizão, Amoroso, Júnior, Valdeci, Almir and Felipe Espíndola; José Carlos, Cristina Soares, Flávio, Renan, Alex, Lugano, Grafite, Fabão, Flávio Kretzer, Rogério Ceni, Roger (GK), Marco Antônio, Diego Tardelli, Daniel Rossi, Edcarlos, Danilo, Roger, Roberta Rosa and Juca Pacheco; Haroldo Lamounier, Gilberto Moraes, Turíbio de Barros, José Sanchez, Luiz Rosan, Sérgio Rocha, Carlinhos Neves, Marco Aurélio Cunha, João Paulo de Jesus Lopes, Marcelo Portugal Gouvêa, Juvenal Juvêncio, Paulo Autuori, Milton Cruz, Gilvan Araújo, Ricardo Sasaki, Carlos Alberto, Wellington and Alessandro

COACHING STAFF

Head Coaches: Emerson Leão and Paulo AutuoriAssistants: Milton Cruz and Gilvan Araújo dos SantosDoctor: Dr. José SanchezFitness Coaches: Carlinhos Neves and Sérgio RochaGoalkeeping Coach: Haroldo LamounierPhysiotherapists: Luiz Rosan and Ricardo SasakiPhysiologist: Dr. Turíbio Leite de BarrosPerformance Analyst: Wellington ValquerMassage Therapists: Aílton Rodrigues and Almir LimaKit Managers: Valdeci Nascimento and Cícero FeitosaAdvisors: Juca Pacheco and Felipe EspíndolaFootball Manager: José CarlosFootball Superintendent: Marco Aurélio Cunha

Aílton, Cícero, Michel, Mineiro, Josué, Cicinho, Vélber, Fábio Santos, Souza, Alê, Luizão, Amoroso, Júnior, Valdeci, Almir and Felipe Espíndola; José Carlos, Cristina Soares, Flávio, Renan, Alex, Lugano, Grafite, Fabão, Flávio Kretzer, Rogério Ceni, Roger (GK), Marco Antônio, Diego Tardelli, Daniel Rossi, Edcarlos, Danilo, Roger, Roberta Rosa and Juca Pacheco; Haroldo Lamounier, Gilberto Moraes, Turíbio de Barros, José Sanchez, Luiz Rosan, Sérgio Rocha, Carlinhos Neves, Marco Aurélio Cunha, João Paulo de Jesus Lopes, Marcelo Portugal Gouvêa, Juvenal Juvêncio, Paulo Autuori, Milton Cruz, Gilvan Araújo, Ricardo Sasaki, Carlos Alberto, Wellington and Alessandro. Photo: Rubens Chiri

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