The Ecuadorian air does not suit Flamengo. Independiente del Valle gave him an unforgettable defeat in 2020: 5 to 0. Emelec already beat him twice: 3-2 and 2-0. And on Wednesday, Aucas sent him to the canvas: 2-1 in a real rush, because it is a triumph of a rookie against the current champion. Historically everywhere you look: the first player has never taken down the one who wears the crown. The first day of the group stage of the Libertadores, which is played this week, left behind other pearls: two giants from La Paz clashed: The Strongest beat River 3-1, and Bolívar by the same score against Palmeiras.

‘Aucas deals a strong blow to Flamengo’s ego’, ‘The champion did not know how to overcome a modest rival’ and more complaints from the Brazilian press

The victory of Auquista was defined by journalists as a failure and awakened in journalists, statisticians and fond memories of other surprising results throughout the 64 editions of the competition of the queens of South America at the club level. Batacazo is not just any result: it has to be something really unexpected and he has to be in charge of a team that is truly inferior to the other, with no winning tradition behind it. If possible, make him a visitor. Bumps attract fans and reinforce the idea that anything is possible in football.

Bump! Aucas beat Flamengo in their Copa Libertadores debut

One of the first big bells was, in 1967, a huge 3-0 lead scored by the unknown 31 de Octubre de La Paz over Racing (who would be champions that year). Before a 3-0 win was not considered, there had to be a four-goal margin to earn such a mark. Maybe the qualifying match was allowed in 4 to 1. But it was from there. But about thirty years ago, the newspapers began to write “Boca broke Vélez 3-0”, and it was imposed. Nothing more than giving a bombastic title. Racing played with Perfumo, Basile, Panadero Díaz, Maschia and all their figures.

Despite his physical discomfort, ‘Gabigol’ heads Flamengo’s payroll for the visit to Aucas

In the same year, Universitario de Perú, which made its first weapon at the international level, confused locals and foreigners. For the semi-finals of the Cup, he was programmed to sink it: in 48 hours he had to face Rivera and Racing in Buenos Aires, who were waiting for him rested: first he defeated River 1-0 in Minumental, then Racing in Avellaneda. heroic.

In 1971, two phenomenal results were achieved: at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro, Deportivo Italia from Caracas beat Fluminense 1-0, in the so-called “Venezuelan Maracanaz”. The unusual thing about this case was that in the first game, in the city where Bolívar was born, Fluminense beat Italy 6-0. Something similar is discounted for a return accident. And in return, the same players acted. Mario Zagallo was the coach of the Brazilians. At the end of the meeting, no one could understand what had happened, and the senior leader of Fluminense, Mauricio Faría, died of a heart attack. The now defunct Deportivo Italia wore the same jacket azzurra Italian team. Many years later the club was re-founded under the name Deportivo Italchacao, under the auspices of Parmalat.

Defender of Italy chiquichagua Marín described the game and the performance of his goalkeeper Vito Fassano: “They will make ten of us, I thought. I wasn’t thrilled with the hug from Tenori who scored the penalty, no one congratulated him. They placed the ball in the center and the barrage began. I have never seen a goalkeeper protect as much as Fassano did that day. They deflected 3-4 balls off the post, but it was 0-1 and we won. It was something incredible!” The outstanding performance of Fassano allowed him to be hired by the Brazilian Cruzeiro the following year.

It was March 3, the 29th sensational blow of Barcelona over Estudiantes de La Plata, the current three-time champions of the tournament. Barcelona at that time was not the big player on the continent as it is now, and the team of Zubeldía and Verón seemed invincible in their stronghold of La Plata. The only goal was that of the so many times mentioned late father Basurc.

Around 1981, a Chilean club that had barely existed for four years entered the Cup: Cobreloa. She was so unknown that initially many journalists from other countries called her “Cobreola” when entering the Libertadores. They learned the name well when word came that he was racking up victory after victory. At that time, it was claimed that “of course, in Calama hell they cook you, that’s why they win.” But when he completed the feat (a feat that neither the Brazilians nor the Argentinians could achieve) of beating Nacional and Peñarol in Montevideo, one current champion of the Americas, the other who will be next year, there was no longer any doubt: that Cobrelo was something serious, he had football merit, not climatic or geographical. In five days, Nacional (2-1) and Peñarol (1-0) dined at Centenario.

In 1992, the Brazilian club with a strange name -Cricium from Santa Catarina- made its debut in the Cup with a spectacular 3-0 defeat of São Paulo against Telé Santana, which, as in the aforementioned case of Racing in 1967, would lift the trophy in the same year.

Five-time champion Peñarol, once formidable, went down 6-1 in 2002 against another team that had never played before: Real Potosí, whose stadium sits at 4,090 meters. Another Brazilian club never mentioned in the international arena – Paysandú – took down Boca in full Bombonera: 1-0 with a goal from Iarley. It was 2003. Boca will also be champion that year. He liked Iarley so much that he was hired by the club Azul y Oro. The following year, Once Caldas would make a sensational strike as the Cup champion, surfing opponents such as Santos, São Paulo and Boca. A real epic. His platinum brooch was a 2-1 win over São Paulo in Manizales.

In 2007, Caracas FC surprised the continent by beating River 1-0 at the Monumental itself: 1-0 with a goal from Colombian Iván Champet Velázquez. Faced with revenge, River mobilized influence – and succeeded – to expel Caracas FC from their stadium, city and country. The Venezuelan club took it as an insult and took revenge on the field: they played in Colombian Cúcuta and won 3:1. Double meal.

A sensational performance would be in charge of the then new Independiente del Valle. It was 2016. He did the same thing as Caracas: beat Boca back and forth. In Quito 2 on 1 and in Buenos Aires 3 on 2. Then he would hit Rivera in the jaw: 2-0. And in the group stage, he already dealt with Atlético Mineira 3-2.

Tigre, a small club (albeit with many fans) from the northern zone of greater Buenos Aires, had a feast in 2013: they qualified for the Cup for the first time and beat Palmeiras with a minimal 1-0. But perhaps that 5.0 by Independiente del Valle over Flamengo is the boy’s most thunderous slap to the big man. The immense popularity of football also feeds on these pearls.