Argentine's Independiente, known as the "King of Cups," won another one on Wednesday, defeating Brazil club Goias 5-3 on penalties in the second-leg final of the Copa Sudamericana.
Independiente led 3-1 after regulation time, which left the two-leg final level at 3-3 on aggregate after Goias's 2-0 victory last week in Brazil in the first leg. The standoff forced 30 minutes of extra time in which neither side scored.
Independiente's Eduardo Tuzzio scored the deciding penalty after Brazilian Felipe missed Goias' third attempt, hitting the post to the right of keeper Hilario Navarro.
"This was a very deserved Cup victory for us," Navarro said. "We fought hard for this and beat a great rival."
All the scoring took place in the first 34 minutes in a first half dominated by Independiente. Goias stiffened in the second half and had more chances, including what might have been a deciding goal in the 110th minute. The header into the net was ruled offside, and TV replays showed the call was right.
Julian Velazquez gave Independiente a 1-0 lead in the 19th, scoring off a rebound after Goias keeper Harlei stopped an initial shot.
Goias' Rafael Moura equalized three minutes later, scoring on a leaping header off a long cross from his left side.
Independiente went ahead again in the 28th, scoring with a freak goal by Facundo Parra. The ball struck his foot and fooled Harlei, who slipped coming off his line.
Parra's next goal to make it 3-1 in the 34th was no fluke. He leaped high trying to knock in a header. After missing the attempt and falling to the ground, he kicked the ball home from close range with his right foot.
Parra almost got his third in the 48th, but his powerful shot off the left wing was tipped over the crossbar by Harlei.
Moura was Goias' most dangerous player, coming up with at least a half-dozen scoring chances, most coming in the late stages of the match.
The Buenos Aires club is known in South America as the "Rey de Copas" - King of Cups - having won the Copa Libertadores seven times, more than any other club. It has also twice won world club titles, and has 14 Argentine league trophies.
Independiente has had a poor season in the Argentina Apretura championship, stranded at 17th place in the 20-team league.
The Independiente victory was surely a relief to officials of South America's football governing body CONMEBOL, which may had been embarrassed having Goias - a second-division team - as the champion of its No. 2 cup competition.
The victory gives Independiente an automatic place in the more prestigious Copa Libertadores, which opens in January and is Latin America's equivalent of Europe's Champions League.
