Colombia cheers as Caldas win Copa
MANIZALES, Colombia -- Once Caldas became only the second Colombian club to win the South American championship when they beat holders Boca Juniors 2-0 in a penalty shoot-out in the second leg.
Caldas, knocked out in the first round on their previous two Libertadores appearances, were given a big help by the Argentines, who missed all four of their penalties.
The second leg of the final had finished 1-1 while last week's first match in Buenos Aires was goalless.
Caldas's title triumph was every bit as surprising as Greece reaching the Euro 2004 final in Portugal earlier in the day.
The only other Colombian team to triumph in the 44-year history of the Libertadores were Atletico Nacional in 1989.
Caldas are not even considered a major power in the Andean nation, where they have won the championship twice.
Boca were attempting to lift their fourth Libertadores trophy in five years, all under coach Carlos Bianchi.
Hundreds of toilet rolls thrown from the crowd turned the area around the pitch into a sea of white, while smoke from fireworks filled the stadium before kickoff in a game that brought Manizales to a standstill.
Caldas took an eighth-minute lead when midfielder John Viafara unleashed a 25-metre shot which dipped past goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri.
With the crowd going wild, the Colombians could have made it 2-0, Herly Alcazar wasting the chance with an over-elaborate finish as he got carried away by the carnival atmosphere.
Caldas then sat back but Boca only looked dangerous from set pieces -- and it was a free kick which provided their 52nd-minute equalizer.
Franco Cangele floated the ball across and defender Nicolas Burdisso climbed high to head home.
Valentierra had Caldas's first penalty saved by Abbondanzieri but Boca fared worse as Schiavi shot over, Burdisso hit the crossbar and Cangele and Raul Cascini had efforts stopped by goalkeeper Juan Carlos Henao.
In between, Elkin Soto and Jorge Agudelo scored for the home side while Wilmer Ortegon's spot kick was blocked by Abbondanzieri.
