Copa Sudamericana final: Independiente win in shootout

Argentina’s Independiente have clinched their first Copa Sudamericana after a thrilling 5-3 penalty shoot-out win over Brazilian club Goias.

With scores locked at 3-3 on aggregate after extra-time on Wednesday, it was Independiente who held their nerve the better in the shoot-out to scrape past a determined Goias outfit, who were relegated from Brazil’s Serie A last month.

Trailing 2-0 after the first leg in Brazil, Independiente wasted little time in putting the pressure back on Goias at the Estadio Libertadores de America when Julian Velasquez opened the scoring after 19 minutes.

But Goias hit back through Rafael Moura just three minutes later to take a 3-1 aggregate lead.

The Argentian side needed a hero, and they did not have to wait long to find one when striker Facundo Parra scored after 27 minutes and again in the 34th to have his side back on level terms as the crowd reached fever pitch.

Goias steadied at the back, however, and both sides had chances as regular time dwindled out to score a winner but neither could find the back of the net.

Extra time could not separate the two sides, although Goias were disappointed to have a goal waved off for offside in the second period.

That meant the final score was 3-3 on aggregate and the winner would be decided by penalties for just the second time in the tournament’s eight-year history.

Max Velasquez and Parra converted the first two penalties for Independiente, while Rafael Toloi and Everton did likewise for Goias.

But after Leandro Gracian had put the Argentineans 3-2 up, Goias substitute Felipe crashed his shot into the post to hand the advantage to Independiente.

It was left to centre-back Eduardo Tuzzio to step up and slam the final penalty past Goias goalkeeper Harlei and into the top corner, setting off rapturous scenes in Avellaneda as Independiente secured their maiden Copa Sudamericana triumph.