Paraguay's journeymen earn right to face Real Madrid

Last Wednesday the destiny of South America's premier club competition was decided. Now Real Madrid know who they will face in the annual Tokyo match between the winners of Europe's Champions League and South America's Copa Libertadores.

Fifa's team of the century, with Zidane, Figo, Raul, Roberto Carlos and all, will be up against Olimpia, a collection of journeymen from Paraguay.

It is a clash which eloquently illustrates the current chasm between the two continents. In Europe the access to money allows the traditional giants to buy players who tip the balance. In South America the absence of money levels the playing field. This is the first time since 1991 that the Libertadores title has gone outside either Brazil or Argentina.

After seeing off the best that South America's major powers could throw at them, Olimpia are worthy champions. In the quarter-finals they eliminated the holders, Boca Juniors of Argentina. In the semis they knocked out the highly-fancied Brazilians Gremio before ending the dream of Brazil's fairytale side, São Caetano, in the final.

São Caetano are themselves the product of the harsh economic realities of contemporary South American football. A tiny club from the industrial outskirts of São Paulo, they were only formed in December 1989, and as recently as two years ago were an anonymous Second Division outfit. The remarkable rise has been based on a collective approach. The big clubs, ridden by debt, are mainly concerned with selling stars to Europe. With their passing and teamwork, São Caetano had enough to go all the way from obscurity to the brink of the Libertadores title.

Distances are vast in South America and bank balances are small. Only the privileged can afford to travel. A one-off final in a neutral venue is a non-starter. A two-legged tie is the obvious solution, and, after winning the first leg 1-0 in Asuncion, São Caetano seemed ready to write their name on the Cup. Their ground was adjudged too small to stage the second, which was switched to Paecambu stadium, usually used by Corinthians. A near-capacity crowd cheered São Paulo's footballing Cinderalla all the way to the ball.

But underestimating a Paraguayan is never a good idea. It is said that a Paraguayan can be beaten by a better man, but never by a braver one. When it mattered, Olimpia were both. An enchanting, serene people, the Paraguayans conceal a warrior side which football brings to the surface. Olimpia's triumph was a classic case of backs-to-the-wall Paraguayan grit.

Olimpia are one of the stalwarts of the Libertadores. They have appeared in all but 10 of the competition's 43 campaigns, second only to Peñarol of Uruguay. Winners in 1979 and 1990, they were desperate to crown their centenary with a third success.

But the celebrations suffered a double blow. On the eve of the official centenary, they lost the final first leg in front of their own fans. Then some of the players were caught in a nightclub at 5am. The club's flamboyant president, the businessman and media magnate Oswaldo Dominguez Dibb, resigned, declaring himself tired of his team's lack of professionalism.

Perhaps it was a motivational ploy. Intentional or not, it spurred Olimpia into one of their most aggressive displays of the campaign. Their delegation refused to have either breakfast or lunch in the hotel to ensure that "nothing abnormal" occurred. On the field, all the venom came from the visitors who seized the initiative from the start.

Perhaps the occasion was too big for tiny São Caetano. Much was at stake for the young club. Brazilian football culture can be very hard on those who come second. After losing in the final of the last two Brazilian championships, another slip at the last was sure to bring ridicule. Victory would send them off to face Real Madrid, with a real opportunity to establish themsleves on a long-term basis. Defeat could be the first step on the unforgiving road back to obscurity.

On the half hour they took the lead, going two up on aggregate. But it was worryingly against the run of play. The high ball into the box has always been a feature of Paraguayan football. The poor state of pitches in the impoverished country makes it frequently the best alternative. Olimpia began the second half with a blitz which brought them two quick goals to level. Even after the Paraguayans had a man sent off São Caetano looked unlikely to score and once it went to penalties there seemed little doubt which team would hold its nerve better.

Two Brazilians skied over the bar and Olimpia won, bringing thousands out to liven up Asuncion's streets, rendered sad and sedate by Paraguay's deep crisis. The fans should enjoy their moment because there is no guarantee that they will have anything to celebrate after they meet Real Madrid.