The 1985 Copa Libertadores de América finals was the final contested by Argentinian club Argentinos Juniors and Colombian América de Cali. The first leg of the tie was played on 17 October at Estádio Monumental, the second leg played on 22 October at Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero, and the playoff on 24 October at Defensores del Chaco.[1]
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Argentinos Juniors, champions
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Event | 1985 Copa Libertadores | ||||||
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2–2 on points Tied after a play-off Argentinos Juniors won 5–4 on penalties | |||||||
First leg | |||||||
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Date | 17 October 1985 | ||||||
Venue | Monumental, Buenos Aires | ||||||
Referee | Juan F. Escobar (Paraguay) | ||||||
Attendance | 50,000 | ||||||
Second leg | |||||||
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Date | 22 October 1985 | ||||||
Venue | Pascual Guerrero, Cali | ||||||
Referee | Luis Félix (Brazil) | ||||||
Attendance | 35,350 | ||||||
Play-off | |||||||
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After extra time | |||||||
Date | 24 October 1985 (1985-10-24) | ||||||
Venue | Defensores del Chaco, Asunción | ||||||
Referee | Hernán Silva (Chile) | ||||||
Attendance | 25,000 | ||||||
← 1984 1986 → |
After both teams won one game each (by the same score, 1–0), Argentinos Juniors finally crowned champion in the playoff match held in Asunción. The Argentine side defeated América 5–4 via penalty shoot-out, therefore winning their first Copa Libertadores title.[2][3]
The finals was played over two legs; home and away. The team that accumulated the most points —two for a win, one for a draw, zero for a loss— after the two legs was crowned champion. If the two teams were tied on points after the second leg, a playoff in a neutral would become the next tie-breaker. Goal difference was used as a last resort.
Team | Previous finals app. |
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Argentinos Juniors | None |
América de Cali | None |
Argentinos Juniors | 1–0 | América de Cali |
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Commisso 40' |
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Juan F. Escobar (Paraguay)
Argentinos Juniors |
América de Cali
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América de Cali | 1–0 | Argentinos Juniors |
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Ortiz 4' |
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Luis Félix (Brazil)
América de Cali |
Argentinos Juniors |
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América de Cali | 1–1 (a.e.t.) | Argentinos Juniors |
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Gareca 42' | Report | Commisso 37' |
Penalties | ||
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4–5 |
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Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Hernán Silva (Chile)
América de Cali |
Argentinos Juniors |
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I did not see the relevance of that achievement at the time. For me, it meant only one cup else because our team entered to the pitch to win whatever be at stake (...) For a club like Argentinos Juniors, winning a Copa Libertadores is very difficult. The club is not like Boca or River. And something similar happened when we won the Copa Interamericana. Who noticed that we won that cup at Trinidad and Tobago? Nobody.
— Goalkeeper Enrique Vidallé in an interview with La Nación, October 2020 [4]