1961 Copa Libertadores Finals

The 1961 Copa de Campeones de América Finals was a football series between Peñarol and Palmeiras on June 4 and June 11 of this same year. It was the second final of South America's most prestigious football competition, the Copa de Campeones (known in the modern era as the Copa Libertadores). Defending champions Peñarol were appearing in their second consecutive final, whereas Palmeiras were seeking to win the competition for the first time. Both finalists reached the final with relative ease as each of them won three of their four matches.

1961 Copa de Campeones Finals

Event	1961 Copa de Campeones de América
Peñarol Palmeiras 2 1
Peñarol won 3–1 on points.
First leg
Peñarol Palmeiras 1 0
Date	June 4, 1961
Venue	Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
Referee	José Luis Praddaude (Argentina)
Attendance	64,376
Second leg
Palmeiras Peñarol 1 1
Date	June 11, 1961
Venue	Estádio do Pacaembu, São Paulo
Referee	José Luis Praddaude (Argentina)
Attendance	50,000

Each club needed to win two group series to reach the final. Peñarol's victories were incredibly one-sided affairs, each effectively settled by the first leg, as they thumped Universitario of Peru 5-0 in the first leg of their quarterfinal group. Peñarol even dispatched Olimpia in the semifinals with little difficulty as they won both matches of the series in a rematch of the previous year's finals. Palmeiras made similar comfortable progress: they scored nine goals while conceding only three after beating Independiente away and crushing Independiente Santa Fe 4-1 at home.

Like the previous edition, Alberto Spencer scored a late goal in the first leg of the final to give his team a slight lead. Going into São Paulo, José Sasía scored in the first two minutes of the match in order to give Peñarol their second consecutive title in the competition. Sacia's goal also became the fastest goal to be scored on a final match. Curiously, José Luis Praddaude became the first, and so far only, referee to officiate both matches of the final series in this competition. He also refereed the second leg of the 1960 final.[1]