2005 Conmebol Libertadores champion | OneFootball

On this July 14, São Paulo looks back on winning its third South American title, achieved in 2005. São Paulo thrashed Atlético Paranaense 4-0 (the second-biggest winning margin in finals in the competition’s history—behind only another São Paulo rout: the 5-1 over Universidad Católica in 1993) and once again claimed the title of King of America.

Two-time South American champion in the Telê Santana era, with Raí, Müller and company, Tricolor let the chance for a third title slip away in 1994, in a fateful penalty shootout, and endured a tough 10 years before returning to the competition most beloved by São Paulo fans. The 2005 title was born from that decade-long hunger for victory.

The story began again in 2004. After setbacks in the quest for a spot in 1999, 2000, and 2002, São Paulo, with the third-place finish in the 2003 Brazilian Championship—the first in history held under the round-robin system—finally regained the right to play in the Copa Libertadores de América.

Proving it had a very special affection for the tournament, São Paulo’s average home attendance at Morumbis was over 56,000 people. Fueled by that support, Tricolor reached the semifinals, only to be eliminated in the final minute by Colombia’s Once Caldas, the eventual champion.

It left fans wanting more. Tricolor was not satisfied. At the end of the 2004 Brasileirão, another third-place finish in the final standings secured qualification for the international competition once again. Now it was time to be champions! In 2005, São Paulo bet on experienced names such as defensive midfielders Mineiro and Josué, and center forward Luizão. The team found its rhythm. It led the Paulista unbeaten for 15 rounds, losing that unbeaten run to Lusa. The title came shortly after, against Santos (0-0), with three rounds to spare.

São Paulo had already played four matches in the group stage of the 2005 Libertadores (two wins and two draws) when there was a change in command: Emerson Leão left his position as head coach, and assistant Milton Cruz led the team in the fifth match (an away draw against Universidad de Chile).

São Paulo then turned to a big-name coach to lead Tricolor to the title. He arrived, and with immediate authority: right away, at Pacaembu, a 5-1 win over Corinthians, which had nothing to do with this story. Paulo Autuori led São Paulo forward in giant strides toward its third South American crown.

In the knockout stage, São Paulo got past a traditional victim in the tournament. Palmeiras fell to Tricolor with two defeats (1-0 at Palestra Itália and 2-0 at Morumbis). In the quarterfinals, at home, captain Rogério Ceni delivered a sensational performance (two goals scored and even a missed penalty) in a 4-0 win over Mexico’s Tigres. The second leg was a formality, though it cost the team its unbeaten run in the tournament. The semifinal, however, against River Plate, brought all of Latin America to a standstill.

What Tricolor did not know was that there was a scheme involving the match referee to favor the Buenos Aires side. It made no difference: with the newly signed Amoroso, São Paulo got the job done—2-0 at home (“El Morumbis te mata”), and 3-2 away. Their fifth Libertadores final in history!

The matches against Atlético Paranaense were played at Beira-Rio—the CAP at the time still did not have a stadium that met the regulations for the final of the international tournament—and at Morumbis. In the first leg, a 1-1 draw. The crowning moment came at Morumtri!

Article image:2005 Conmebol Libertadores champion

71,986 people witnessed another show from the “Team of Warriors,” as the Libertadores-winning side became known after the emphatic 4-0 victory. Rogério Ceni lifted the trophy, and the fans set Morumbis alight with cries of “Telê, Telê”!

Group Stage03.03.2005 – 3 X 3 – THE STRONGEST Football Club (Bolivia)09.03.2005 – 4 X 2 – Corporación de Fútbol Profesional de la UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE (Chile)16.03.2005 – 2 X 2 – QUILMES Atlético Club (Argentina)13.04.2005 – 3 X 1 – QUILMES Atlético Club (Argentina)21.04.2005 – 1 X 1 – Corporación de Fútbol Profesional de la UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE (Chile)11.05.2005 – 3 X 0 – THE STRONGEST Football Club (Bolivia)

Round of 1618.05.2005 – 1 X 0 – Sociedade Esportiva PALMEIRAS (SP)25.05.2005 – 2 X 0 – Sociedade Esportiva PALMEIRAS (SP)

Quarterfinals01.06.2005 – 4 X 0 – TIGRES – Sinergia Deportiva de la Universidad Autónoma Nuevo León (Mexico)15.06.2005 – 1 X 2 – TIGRES – Sinergia Deportiva de la Universidad Autónoma Nuevo León (Mexico)

Semifinals22.06.2005 – 2 X 0 – Club Atlético RIVER PLATE (Argentina)29.06.2005 – 3 X 2 – Club Atlético RIVER PLATE (Argentina)

Finals06.07.2005 – 1 X 1 – Clube ATLÉTICO PARANAENSE (PR)14.07.2005 – 4 X 0 – Clube ATLÉTICO PARANAENSE (PR)

06.07.2005Porto Alegre (RS)José Pinheiro Borda Stadium – Beira-Rio

Clube ATLÉTICO PARANAENSE 1 X 1 SÃO PAULO Futebol Clube

SPFC: Rogério Ceni ©; Fabão, Diego Lugano and Alex; Cicinho, Mineiro, Josué, Danilo and Junior; Amoroso and Luizão. COACH: Paulo Autuori. GOAL: Durval (own goal), 7/2

CAP: Diego; Jancarlos (André Rocha), Danilo, Durval and Marcão ©; Cocito, Alan Bahia, Fernandinho (Evandro) and Fabrício; Aloisio and Lima. COACH: Antônio Lopes. GOAL: Aloísio (header), 14/1

REFEREE: Jorge Luis Larrionda Pietrafesa (Uruguay)ASSISTANT REFEREE 1: Fernando Cresci (Uruguay)ASSISTANT REFEREE 2: Walter Rial (Uruguay)GATE RECEIPTS: UnknownATTENDANCE: Unknown

Rogério Ceni, Fabão, Lugano, Alex and Danilo; Luizão, Júnior, Amoroso, Cicinho, Mineiro and Josué

14.07.2005São Paulo (SP)Cícero Pompeu de Toledo Stadium – Morumbis

SÃO PAULO Futebol Clube 4 X 0 Clube ATLÉTICO PARANAENSE

SPFC: Rogério Ceni ©; Fabão, Diego Lugano and Alex; Cicinho, Mineiro, Josué, Danilo and Junior (Fábio Santos, 40’/2); Amoroso (Diego Tardelli, 33’/2) and Luizão (Souza, 28’/2). COACH: Paulo Autuori. GOALS: Amoroso, 16’/1; Fabão, 7’/2; Luizão, 25’/2; Diego Tardelli, 43’/2.

CAP: Diego; Jancarlos, Danilo, Durval and Marcão © (Fernandinho, 15’/2); Cocito, André Rocha (Alan Bahia, 37’/2), Evandro and Fabrício; Lima (Rodrigo, 15’/2) and Aloísio. COACH: Antônio Lopes.

REFEREE: Horacio Marcelo Elizondo (Argentina)ASSISTANT REFEREE 1: Rodolfo Otero (Argentina)ASSISTANT REFEREE 2: Juan Carlos Rebollo (Argentina)GATE RECEIPTS: R$ 3,026,395.00ATTENDANCE: 71,986 paid

Turíbio de Barros, Sérgio Rocha, Rogério Ceni, Fábio Santos, Róger, Renan, Lugano, Danilo, Edcarlos, Alex and Fabão; Luizão, Aílton; Souza, Marco Antônio, Tardelli, Amoroso, Cicinho, Mineiro, Josué and Júnior

Aílton, Cícero, Michel, Mineiro, Josué, Cicinho, Vélber, Fábio Santos, Souza, Alê, Luizão, Amoroso, Júnior, Valdeci, Almir and Felipe Espíndola; José Carlos, Cristina Soares, Flávio, Renan, Alex, Lugano, Grafite, Fabão, Flávio Kretzer, Rogério Ceni, Roger (GK), Marco Antônio, Diego Tardelli, Daniel Rossi, Edcarlos, Danilo, Roger, Roberta Rosa and Juca Pacheco; Haroldo Lamounier, Gilberto Moraes, Turíbio de Barros, José Sanchez, Luiz Rosan, Sérgio Rocha, Carlinhos Neves, Marco Aurélio Cunha, João Paulo de Jesus Lopes, Marcelo Portugal Gouvêa, Juvenal Juvêncio, Paulo Autuori, Milton Cruz, Gilvan Araújo, Ricardo Sasaki, Carlos Alberto, Wellington and Alessandro

Head coaches: Emerson Leão and Paulo AutuoriAssistants: Milton Cruz and Gilvan Araújo dos SantosDoctor: Dr. José SanchezFitness coaches: Carlinhos Neves and Sérgio RochaGoalkeeping coach: Haroldo LamounierPhysiotherapists: Luiz Rosan and Ricardo SasakiPhysiologist: Dr. Turíbio Leite de BarrosPerformance analyst: Wellington ValquerMassage therapists: Aílton Rodrigues and Almir LimaKit managers: Valdeci Nascimento and Cícero FeitosaAdvisors: Juca Pacheco and Felipe EspíndolaFootball Manager: José CarlosFootball Superintendent: Marco Aurélio Cunha