4-19-07 - Inter Eliminated From Libertadores Cup

Internacional is out of the Libertadores Cup.

Needing to beat Nacional by three goals in order to advance out of Group 4, the defending world club champions managed only a 1-0 victory at Beira-Rio Stadium. The two teams finished group play with 10 points each, but Nacional won the tiebreaker on goal differential (+4 to Inter’s 0). Vélez Sarfield finished with 11 points to win the group.

Internacional’s early exit was a first in Libertadores Cup history. For the first time ever, the defending champion will not be represented in the playoffs. At first, the holders were exempt from contesting the early rounds, receiving a bye into later stages of the competition. That changed in 2000, when the Libertadores Cup expanded to include more competitors. Although there were some close calls (Olimpia in 2003, Once Caldas in 2005), no champion had ever failed to advance. That is, until now.

This latest setback followed on the heels of Inter’s elimination from the Gaúcho State Championship. Four months after winning the world club championship, the Colorados failed to advance out of the first round of both the competitions it was competing in. How the mighty have fallen.