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Nacional clinch Copa

Ross DunbarJuly 28, 2016

The fairytale of Independiente del Valle in the Copa Libertadores ended in disappointment after a 2-1 aggregate defeat to Colombia's Atletico Nacional. It's the first title win for Nacional since 1989.

https://p.dw.com/p/1JX0m
Copa Libertadores Jubel Atletico Nacional
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/M. D. Castaneda

Independiente del Valle hail from a small suburb of Quito, Ecuador's capital city, and only gained promotion to the top flight seven years ago.

One scalp followed after another as the black-and-blues toppled the biggest teams on the continent. River Plate were humbled in the last 16. Pumas of Mexico were beaten in the quarterfinals. Then Argentine giants Boca Juniors were beaten home and away as the Ecuadorians embarked on becoming just the second side from the country to win South America's version of the Champions League.

For the first time since 1991, no teams from Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay were represented in the final. But Atletico Nacional - the champions of Colombia on 15 occasions - are still a force, having last won the competition in 1989.

After a 1-1 draw in Quito last week, 23-year-old attacker Miguel Borja struck the decisive goal on home soil to secure a 2-1 aggregate win and secure Atletico Nacional's place in the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan at the end of the year.