Quito campeon!

Liga de Quito capped off its surprise run in Copa Libertadores by dispatching Brazilian powers Fluminense in a dramatic finale on Wednesday. Liga went in with a 4-2 lead, got a goal early and held on as Fluminense stormed back. The Brazilians eventually leveled the aggregate score and sent the match to PKs. Liga took care of the rest.

The match was played in front of more than 80,000 fans in the Maracana.

Liga de Quito, meanwhile, became the first Ecuadorian club to win a Copa Libertadores title.

Here are the highlights:

Liga takes first leg

Liga de Quito beat Fluminense 4-2 in Ecuador in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores final. The club now just needs to draw or even lose by one to win their first-ever Copa title.

The final took a bit of a hiatus because of World Cup qualifying but the final is now taking center stage in South America.

Here are the highlights:

Pa 'fuera

Mexico's worst club is finally out of Copa Libertadores. America tied Liga de Quito 0-0 in Ecuador but the result was not enough to see America through to the final. Liga de Quito pulled out a 1-1 draw in Mexico City and the ever-important road goal sent the Ecuadorians to the final and the Mexicans back home.

America was hoping to become the first Mexican club since Cruz Azul in 2001 to reach the Copa Libertadores final but it wasn't meant to be.

America draws at home

America played a decent game on Tuesday but needed to come from behind to tie Liga de Quito 1-1. America needs a win or a tie of 2-2 or better to advance to the final.

America on way to semis

America lost to Santos 1-0 on Thursday but still advanced to the semifinals of Copa Libertadores. Guillermo Ochoa and America's defense withstood a 90-minute barrage from Santos, who got a goal from ex-America star Kleber in the second half.

America will play Liga Deportivo Universitario of Quito in the semis.

Here are the highlights:

So much for Atlas

Atlas fell by the wayside and were done in by the superior team as Boca Juniors demolished Atlas 3-0 in Guadalajara.

Boca played like a club that has won six Copa Libertadores titles and Atlas played like the zorritos we all know and love, the sad-sack overhyped club that couldn't win a championship if it was handed to them.

Boca Juniors moves on to the semifinals while America holds the Mexican league's last hope in Libertadores. America visits Santos of Brazil on Thursday with a 2-0 aggregate advantage, but we all saw how Atlas handled their advantage so America certainly has won nothing yet.

ADD:

Here are the highlights. Juan Roman Riquelme, Martin Palermo and Rodrigo Palacio make for a talented attacking trio. I wonder if Atlas knew this before the game.

Elsewhere around the world

Moscow will have the global spotlight today but Guadalajara will host a pretty big game as well.

Boca Juniors visits Atlas of Guadalajara with a Copa Libertadores semifinal berth in hand. Boca Juniors led 2-1 late in the first leg a week ago in Argentina before Atlas leveled the match with minutes to spare. The goal was valuable as Atlas now needs only a draw to get through (as long as its not 3-3 or more).

Atlas is not part of the Mexican semifinals, which kick off tonight as Cruz Azul visits San Luis, so Atlas has been entirely focused on Libertadores for more than a week now.

Atlas already beat Boca Juniors in Estadio Jalisco, a 3-1 victory for los zorros during the group stage. A victory would be historic for Atlas. Though a club with a lot of history, Atlas doesn't exactly have much hardware to display on its mantle. Atlas has just one league title, won back in the 1950s, and the club has participated in Copa Libertadores once and reached the quarterfinals. Atlas has played better than most expected throughout this entire tournament and nothing but a complete collapse can keep Atlas from reaching the semifinals.

Mexico's worst

... may be South America's best.

America finished dead last in the Mexican league table during the Clausura 2008 season, the first time the club has ever finished bottom of the table.

But America is one step away from the Copa Libertadores semifinals. America took care of Brazil's Santos by 2-0 in Estadio Azteca on Thursday. America needs only a draw to get through. Even a loss could see America through.

Here are the highlights. German Villa had a sublime pass to Salvador Cabanas on the second goal, and Cabanas touch and finish were perfect.

Atlas draws in Argentina

Atlas of Guadalajara tied Boca Juniors 2-2 in the first leg of the clubs' quarterfinal series in the Copa Libertadores.

It was a great show by both sides. Atlas took an early lead but Boca wound up ahead midway through the second half. With a few minutes from time, though, Atlas leveled terms and the match finished even at 2. Atlas will host the second leg next week and has the upper hand with their two road goals.

Here are highlights of the entertaining match:

Stunning win

America had such a terrible domestic campaign, the only thing that gave their supporters hope was Copa Libertadores. But even after getting past the group stage, it didn't look like that was much of a consolation prize. Flamengo beat America 4-2 in Azteca and coach Ruben Omar Romano didn't survive the night.

America needed to win by three on Wednesday to advance, a tall order for any club. But somehow, someway America reached deep down inside and pulled off a shocking result. America beat Flamengo 3-0 in the Maracana on Wednesday and advanced to the quarterfinals of Copa Libertadores.

Here's how they did it:

Atlas moves on

It wasn't easy but Atlas of Guadalajara moved on to the quarterfinals of Copa Libertadores. After taking the first leg by 1-0 at Lanus of Argentina, Atlas needed just a draw to get through, and that's what los Zorros got as Tuesday's match finished 2-2. Twice Atlas went ahead but twice Lanus responded, the final goal coming in the 90th minute.

Drama ensued as Lanus had several more opportunities in stoppage time but Atlas prevailed. Atlas will await the winner of the Boca Juniors-Cruzeiro series in the quarterfinals.

Perhaps complicating Atlas' Copa task is the domestic campaign. Atlas will play Necaxa in the repechaje round with games scheduled for Thursday and Sunday.

Two late daggers

Just when it looked like America was going to down to Brazil with a shot of advancing to the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals, disaster struck.

Twice.

Flamengo scored goals in the 88th and 90th minutes to beat America 4-2 in Estadio Azteca. Flamengo now needs just a draw to knock out America and move on in the Copa Libertadores. Even a one-goal loss would see the Brazilians through to the next round.

America's lone saving grace this year was Copa Libertadores. The league campaign has been the worst-ever in their storied history. And now the club's poor form has finally carried over internationally.

En route to Copa quarters

Atlas of Guadalajara beat Lanus of Argentina 1-0 in the first leg of the clubs' second round Copa Libertadores series. With just a draw at home, Atlas will advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament. Not bad for a club many had given up on at the start of the year.

Bruno Marioni scored the game's only goal, in the 37th minute. It was a nice one too.

Internationally speaking

Mexican clubs had some international dealings on Wednesday, on and off the pitch...

- Pachuca tied Saprissa 1-1 in Costa Rica in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup final. Luis Gabriel Rey scored los Tuzos' goal early in the second half and the club nearly made it stand but el Monstruo roared back with a goal near the death as Victor Cordero evened things up. Pachuca need only win at home to claim their second consecutive regional crown. Texas native Jose Francisco Torres started and played 62 minutes.

- America and Atlas learned their international fate on Wednesday. America will play Brazilian side Flamengo while Atlas will meet Lanus of Argentina in the knockout round of the Copa Libertadores.

Colossal

Against Colo Colo, it was only fitting Colotto got the goal. Diego Colotto scored the goal that helped Atlas through to the knockout phase of the Copa Libertadores as Atlas tied Colo Colo 1-1.

Cancha ran a story yesterday on Atlas' one and only Mexican league title, way back in the 1950s. Few expected much of Atlas this year but the club booked a passage to the second round, a feat city rivals Chivas failed to do. Atlas, though, needs some help to get into the Mexican league playoffs.

Howler of a performance

Caracas fell to San Lorenzo by 3-0 in a Copa Libertadores game. Caracas goalkeeper Vicente Rosales didn't help the cause.

Chivas out

In what can only be described as a major disappointment, Chivas is out of Copa Libertadores. Despite a 3-0 thrashing of Bolivian side San Jose, Chivas will not get past the group stage of Copa Libertadores. Santos of Brazil nabbed the second place spot in the group with a 2-1 win over Cucuta Deportivo in Brazil.

Things looked to be in Chivas' favor late in the match. Holding a 3-0 lead, Cucuta had Santos at 1-1 but the Brazilians persevered.

Since 2000, this is just the second time a Mexican club has failed to get out of the first round. Chivas' failure, though, is surprising given their league form - the club has the best record in Mexico through 14 weeks. Still, Chivas ultimately could not handle Santos and Cucuta as they gained just three points in their four games against those respective South American foes.

Miracle needed

Chivas throttled America in Sunday's superclasico and have the best record in the Mexican league, but their chance to avoid a bit of shame the club needs a miracle to get past the first round of Copa Libertadores.

Chivas will play at Bolivian side San Jose Oruru tonight. A win is a must. Also, Chivas needs Santos of Brazil to lose or tie against Deportivo Cucuta, in a match that Santos will host.

Mexican clubs have yet to win a Copa Libertadores title but they've been fairly consistent in terms of getting past the group stage. Since 2000, 17 of 18 Mexican teams have advanced past the group stage.

This year, Atlas and America all but have their tickets booked to the second round. America needs only a draw - and could still get in with a loss - tonight at Universidad Catolica while Atlas faces a similar scenario next week in Colo Colo.

Mexico and Libertadores

My latest effort for SI.com focuses on how Chivas, America and Atlas are faring in Copa Libertadores. I also took time to answer some letters on Hugo Sanchez's firing.

Two sides of the coin

Atlas of Guadalajara beat Argentine powers Boca Juniors 3-1 in Mexico on Tuesday.

With the win, Atlas is all but through to the quarterfinal stage of Copa Libertadores. Boca, meanwhile, needs some help but their situation is not dire, yet.

Here's how two dailies saw the game. Ole, of Argentina, blares "Defenseless" while Cancha of Guadalajara says "Even with Diego" alluding to Diego Maradona who apparently took the match in from the stands.