River Plate were proclaimed 2015 Copa Libertadores champions last night after they overcame Mexican side, Tigres 3-0 in an epic final. Goals from Alario, Carlos Sánchez and Funes Mori helped Marcelo Gallardo’s team to lift their third Copa Libertadores in the club’s 114 years. This team will go down in history as has the side of 1986 with Bambino Veira or the 1996 team under Ramón Diaz.
70.000 River fans shared the moment with hundreds of thousands having to watch from the comfort of their living rooms. Grandfathers, fathers and sons cried tears of emotion under a torrential Buenos Aires downpour which only added to the drama. Despite the pressure, expectation and the club’s recent history weighing heavy, River were able to control the match and tame a Tigres side who gave the impression that they had come to Argentina just to defend.
One thing Gallardo knows about is heroics and his personality has revived this club which only a few seasons ago suffered a humiliating relegation to the second tier of Argentinean football in the first time of their illustrious history. The 39 year old has brough back ¨River Copero¨ and last night became the first individual ever to win the Copa Libertadores as a player and subsequently as a coach.
The chant of "Dale campeón, dale campeón" was only a prelude to a party that lasted long, long into the wet Buenos Aires night.
River Plate, new champions of América.