AP
Goalkeeper Jose Francisco Cevallos helped Liga de Quito become the first Ecuadorean winner in Copa Libertadores history, stopping three penalty kicks in a 3-1 shootout victory over Fluminense.
Liga won Latin Americaâs most important club competition after falling 3-1 in regulation, which tied the two-game aggregate score 5-5.
Liga won the first leg 4-2 last week in Quito to take a big advantage into the finale at Maracana stadium.
In the shootout, Cevallos stopped shots from Argentine midfielder Dario Conca, playmaker Thiago Neves and striker Washington.
Patricio Urrutia, Franklin Salas and Joffre Guerron scored for Liga in the shootout, while Cicero had Fluminenseâs lone goal in the tiebreaker. Jairo Campos missed his attempt for the Ecuadoreans.
With the victory, Liga earned a spot in FIFAâs Club World Cup later this year.
“This is an incredible victory for us,â Liga de Quito coach Edgardo Bauza said. âA historic title for Liga and Ecuador.â
Liga striker Luis Bolanos opened the scoring just 6 minutes into the match with a right-footed shot from near the penalty spot. Fluminense quickly equalized, with Neves clearing a defender before firing a left-footer from about 25 yards in the 11th.
Neves put Fluminense ahead in the 28th, completing a left-flank cross from midfielder Cicero with a close-range shot that caught the Liga defense by surprise.
âOur team played better and deserved a better result,â Fluminense defender Thiago Silva said. âWe are sad with the loss, but the team needs to be congratulated. We did what we could.â
Neves added his third goal with a well-struck free kick in the 57th, curling a left-footed shot around over the wall.
âOur players were very tough today,â Bauza said. âThey kept it together even after going down 3-1, that was very hard to do, but they showed their strength.”