5. COPA SUDAMERICANA: A first for Mexican soccer
- by Soccer America , Dec 14, 2006
Pachuca won, 3-2, on aggregate to become the first Mexican team to win a South American club competition. CONMEBOL began inviting Mexican teams to the Libertadores Cup and other South Americans competitions in the mid-1990s.
Second-half goals by Gabriel Caballero (the Argentine-born Mexico international) and sub Damian Alvarez (not the former MLS player) gave the Tuzos the title. Colo Colo's only goal was scored by Humberto Suazo in the 35th minute. Pachuca held Colo Colo's Argentine-born star, Matias Fernandez, in check. Fernandez, 20, will move to Spanish club Villarreal in January.
In its fifth year, the Copa Sudamericana, which is played in the fall, ranks behind the Libertadores Cup in importance but attracts many of South America's top clubs. In 2005, reigning MLS champion D.C. United entered the competition but lost to Universidad Catolica of Chile, 4-3, on aggregate in the round of 16.
