Juan Sebastián Verón led Estudiantes to their fourth Copa Libertadores and their first since 1970 when they upset Brazil's Cruzeiro 2–1 in the second leg of the final at the Mineirao in Belo Horizonte.
The Argentinian club, who lifted the trophy three times in a row from 1968, triumphed 2–1 on aggregate after a 0–0 draw at home in La Plata last week.
It was a special achievement for Verón, emulating his father Juan Ramón, the outstanding player of the Estudiantes side that won the club's three previous titles. "Let them enjoy this – it's for the fans. It's unique," said the former Lazio and Manchester United midfielder.
"We have to raise a monument to all the players," said the coach, Alex Sabella, the Sheffield United and Leeds midfielder of the 1970s and 80s. "Verón is the greatest ever Estudiantes player."
Cruzeiro took the lead seven minutes into the second half when Henrique unleashed a drive from 30 yards that took a deflection off Leandro Desábato and went in at the near post, out of reach of the diving Mariano Andújar. But Estudiantes replied within five minutes, with the right-back Christian Cellay whipping in a cross, keeper Fabio failing to cut the ball out and Gastón Fernández tapping in from close range.
The former Boca Juniors striker Mauro Boselli headed the winner in the 73rd minute from Verón's corner, taking his tally as the tournament's top scorer to eight goals. "This is what one dreams of," said Boselli. "It was our objective and we achieved it."
"We played better in the second half, went 1–0 up and could have got a second," said the Cruzeiro coach, Adilson Baptista, whose side are the second Brazilian team in a row to lose the final in the second leg at home following Fluminense's defeat to LDU Quito last year. "Then we conceded goals through a loss of concentration in defence and a dead-ball play. We're not going to feel sorry for ourselves."
