14 July 2005 - We Knew The Brazilians Were Going To Win

On 14 July 2005, São Paulo won their third Copa Libertadores, beating Atlético Paranaense in the tournament's first all-Brazilian final.

Eight days earlier, the teams met at Atlético's Estádio Beira-Rio for the first leg, where the hosts were unlucky not a claim a win. After taking a 14th-minute lead, they surrendered an own-goal in the 52nd minute to draw 1-1. But their luck was even worse in the second leg.

Playing before a crowd of 71,986 at the Morumbi inSão Paulo, the two-time champions went up with a header from forward Márcio Amoroso in the 16th minute and held a 1-0 lead at the break. Another header in the 52nd minute--this time from center back Fabão--doubled the lead, then an easy tap-in by forward Luizão extended the margin eighteen minutes later.

With one minute remaining, substitute forward Diego Tardelli delivered the final goal (and the final insult) when he beat a defender in the box and sent the ball toward goal where it should have been an easy save for Atlético keeper Diego Costa Silva. He was caught off-guard, though, and the ball trickled through at the near post to cap the day as a 4-0 victory for São Paulo.

Not only was it the first all-Brazilian final in tournament history, it was the first one in which both teams came from the same country.

16 August 2006 - Internacional Liberates The Copa

On 16 August 2006, Internacional won their first Copa Libertadores, beating São Paulo on aggregate over two legs. 

The all-Brazilian event was Internacional's first appearance in the tournament final since 1980, when they lost to Uruguay's Nacional. São Paulo, meanwhile, were the defending champions, having won their third title that year. 

Internacional won the first leg, played in São Paulo one week earlier, by the score of 1-2, with both of their goals provided by forward Rafael Sóbis. They met for the second leg at the Estádio Beira-Ro. Playing before a crowd of 55,000, São Paulo pressed for a goal and came close a couple of times, but failed to finish. The first break fell to Inter, when São Paulo keeper and captain Rogério Ceni failed to corral a corner kick. It dropped to Inter's captain, striker Fernandão (pictured), who drove it into the net with a sliding kick. 

Shortly after the break, São Paulo defender Fabão scored from a 50th-minute free kick, but Inter midfielder Tinga restored the margin 16 minutes later when he headed the ball into an open net. That was his last contribution, however, as he received a second yellow for excessive celebration and left the match. But São Paulo failed to take advantage of the ejection until the 85th minute when they got a consolation goal from midfielder Lenílson. The match ended 2-2, giving Inter the aggregate win, 3-4. 

Internacional were the ninth team from Brazil to win the tournament, the highest number of winning clubs from any country. 

14 July 2005 - We Knew The Brazilians Were Going To Win

On 14 July 2005, São Paulo won their third Copa Libertadores, beating Atlético Paranaense in the tournament's first all-Brazilian final.

Eight days earlier, the teams met at Atlético's Estádio Beira-Rio for the first leg, where the hosts were unlucky not a claim a win. After taking a 14th-minute lead, they surrendered an own-goal in the 52nd minute to draw 1-1. But their luck was even worse in the second leg.

Playing before a crowd of 71,986 at the Morumbi inSão Paulo, the two-time champions went up with a header from forward Márcio Amoroso in the 16th minute and held a 1-0 lead at the break. Another header in the 52nd minute--this time from center back Fabão--doubled the lead, then an easy tap-in by forward Luizão extended the margin eighteen minutes later.

With one minute remaining, substitute forward Diego Tardelli delivered the final goal (and the final insult) when he beat a defender in the box and sent the ball toward goal where it should have been an easy save for Atlético keeper Diego Costa Silva. He was caught off-guard, though, and the ball trickled through at the near post to cap the day as a 4-0 victory for São Paulo.

Not only was it the first all-Brazilian final in tournament history, it was the first one in which both teams came from the same country.

16 August 2006 - Internacional Liberates The Copa

On 16 August 2006, Internacional won their first Copa Libertadores, beating São Paulo on aggregate over two legs.

The all-Brazilian event was Internacional's first appearance in the tournament final since 1980, when they lost to Uruguay's Nacional. São Paulo, meanwhile, were the defending champions, having won their third title that year.

Internacional won the first leg, played in São Paulo one week earlier, by the score of 1-2, with both of their goals provided by forward Rafael Sóbis. They met for the second leg at the Estádio Beira-Ro. Playing before a crowd of 55,000, São Paulo pressed for a goal and came close a couple of times, but failed to finish. The first break fell to Inter, when São Paulo keeper and captain Rogério Ceni failed to corral a corner kick. It dropped to Inter's captain, striker Fernandão (pictured), who drove it into the net with a sliding kick.

Shortly after the break, São Paulo defender Fabão scored from a 50th-minute free kick, but Inter midfielder Tinga restored the margin 16 minutes later when he headed the ball into an open net. That was his last contribution, however, as he received a second yellow for excessive celebration and left the match. But São Paulo failed to take advantage of the ejection until the 85th minute when they got a consolation goal from midfielder Lenílson. The match ended 2-2, giving Inter the aggregate win, 3-4.

Internacional were the ninth team from Brazil to win the tournament, the highest number of winning clubs from any country.