And then there were four

Brazilian clubs continue to dominate the Copa Libertadores, with three out of four teams making the 2023 tournament's semi-finals

- TIM VICKERY

Over the course of August in the knockout phase of the Copa Libertadores, 16 teams from seven different countries were whittled down to a last four of Boca Juniors against the Brazilians.

This is a familiar pattern. The last four titles have gone to Brazil, and the last three finals have been all-Brazilian affairs. Argentina have been coming a distant second, but well ahead of the rest of the pack; for six years now the rest of the continent have provided just one semi-finalist.

That is not to say that August came up with no surprises. The biggest shock was the elimination of reigning champions Flamengo, who let a two-goal advantage slip against the aerial power of Paraguay’s Olimpia. And last year’s beaten finalists Athletico Paranaense fell on penalties to Bolivian altitude specialists Bolivar.

But the shock sides could not come up with a second consecutive triumph against Brazilian opposition. Fluminense rode their luck a little against Argentinos Juniors in the second round, but in the quarter-finals the boldness of coach Fernando Diniz helped them to a 5-1 win over Olimpia, with veteran Argentine striker German Cano establishing himself as the competition’s top scorer.