Atletico Nacional’s Miguel Borja struck an early goal to win their second Copa Libertadores title as the Colombian side beat Ecuador’s Independiente del Valle 1-0 on Wednesday to give them a 2-1 aggregate victory.
Macnelly Torres’ chip into the box came back off the post after eight minutes and Borja was on hand to smash the rebound into the net. It was his fifth goal in the last four games.
The first match last week in Ecuador ended locked 1-1.
The team from Colombia’s second city of Medellin will now compete with European champions Real Madrid and five other sides for the World Club Cup in Japan in December.
A capacity crowd watched Atletico win their second Libertadores, South America’s equivalent of the Champions League. They also won the title in 1989.
‘This is thoroughly deserved,’ fullback Daniel Bocanegra told reporters after the game. ‘It’s a dream come true and now we are off to the World Club Cup which is very important.’
With Borja and young striker Marlos Moreno both missing golden opportunities in front of a fervent home crowd, Atletico Nacional however, were still dominant throughout the match.
Independiente also had their chances, and were denied a penalty early in the second half, but could not repeat the performances of the earlier rounds when they overcame Argentine giants Boca Juniors and River Plate.
Fellow Colombians Santa Fe won last season’s Copa Sudamericana, South America’s version of the Europa League.
It is the first time Colombia has held the region’s top two club trophies for the first time.