True to its history, the 2023 Copa Sudamericana will feature a surprise final between Liga de Quito, who will win the double championship and retain the Cup in Ecuador, and Fortaleza, who will hope to bring Brazil’s northeast to their first continental title. .

Independiente del Valle won the title in 2022, and a year later another Ecuadorian will bid for the title. The league improved on the 3-0 it recorded in the first game and in the province of Buenos Aires this Wednesday sealed the placement with a victory against Argentina’s Defensa y Justicia.

Veteran Paolo Guerrero, the ‘Predator’ of a thousand battles, was the big protagonist of the series, scoring two goals in the first game in Quito, goals that earned them qualification.

Brazil’s 2023 Sudamericana saga had its final stop on Tuesday and Fortaleza did it again. They surprised Corinthians with a 2-0 victory in the Northeast – after 1-1 in the first game in Sao Paulo – and reached the final of an international tournament for the first time.

With Argentine coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda in charge, Fortaleza eliminated Brazil’s second most popular team – behind Flamengo – on a night when veteran coach Mano Menezes made his debut, replacing fellow Brazilian Vanderlei Luxemburg, who was sacked in the first leg in Sao Paulo.

‘Leão’ won the game – played at the Castelão Arena, in the city of Fortaleza (northeast) – and the classification with goals from striker Yago Pikachu (49) and captain Tinga (55).

Thus, Fortaleza became the first team from the Brazilian northeast to reach the finals of an international tournament.

On October 28 in Punta del Este, Uruguay, Fortaleza and Liga will fight for the Sudamericana 2023 title. (D)