Today, 1998 Copa Merconorte is still a relevant topic and of great interest to many people around the world. Its importance has remained over time, and its influence extends to various aspects of daily life. Both on a personal and professional level, 1998 Copa Merconorte plays a fundamental role in decision making and in the way we interact with our environment. For this reason, it is essential to deepen the knowledge and understanding of 1998 Copa Merconorte, in order to analyze its implications and its impact on our reality. In this article, we will explore different perspectives and approaches on 1998 Copa Merconorte, with the aim of offering a comprehensive and enriching vision of this very relevant topic.
Tournament details | |
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Dates | 15 September – 9 December 1998 |
Teams | 12 (from 5 associations) |
Final positions | |
Champions | Atlético Nacional (1st title) |
Runners-up | Deportivo Cali |
Tournament statistics | |
Matches played | 75 |
Goals scored | 218 (2.91 per match) |
Top scorer(s) | Héctor Hurtado Neider Morantes Rafael Castellín Héctor Ferri Carlos Alberto Juárez (4 goals each) |
The 1998 Copa Merconorte was an association football tournament held in 1998. Atlético Nacional of Colombia beat Deportivo Cali also of Colombia in the final.
Originally, this tournament was to start on 1 September 1998 (the group stage lasting until 25 November), with 16 teams divided into 4 groups of 4. Those 16 teams included 3 Mexican teams, América, Cruz Azul and Guadalajara.
However, the Mexican Football Federation insisted on including Toluca and Necaxa, the two finalists of the 1998 Summer season, instead of América and Guadalajara, who had been chosen for their popular support. No agreement could be reached, and on 20 August the Mexican teams withdrew. The organization then decided to remove the two teams from the USA (D.C. United and Los Angeles Galaxy) as well, include a fourth Colombian team (América de Cali) and play with 3 groups of 4.
Country | Team |
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Bolivia (1 berth) |
The Strongest |
Colombia (4 berths) |
América de Cali |
Atlético Nacional | |
Deportivo Cali | |
Millonarios | |
Ecuador (3 berths) |
Barcelona |
El Nacional | |
Emelec | |
Peru (3 berths) |
Alianza Lima |
Sporting Cristal | |
Universitario | |
Venezuela (1 berth) |
Caracas |
Each team played the other teams in the group twice during the group stage. The three group winners and the best runner-up advanced to the second round.
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | MIL | EME | AME | CRI | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Millonarios | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 8 | −1 | 10 | Advance to Semifinals | — | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | |
2 | Emelec | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 9 | 3–0 | — | 1–0 | 1–1 | ||
3 | América de Cali | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 2–1 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | ||
4 | Sporting Cristal | 6 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 4 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | ATL | ALI | STR | BAR | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Atlético Nacional | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 7 | +7 | 11 | Advance to Semifinals | — | 3–1 | 2–3 | 4–0 | |
2 | Alianza Lima | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 6 | +2 | 8 | 1–1 | — | 4–0 | 2–0 | ||
3 | The Strongest | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 9 | −4 | 8 | 0–2 | 0–0 | — | 1–0 | ||
4 | Barcelona | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 | −5 | 5 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | CAL | NAC | CAR | UNI | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Deportivo Cali | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 11 | Advance to Semifinals | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | |
2 | El Nacional | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 1–0 | — | 2–1 | 1–1 | ||
3 | Caracas | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 8 | −2 | 7 | 0–2 | 1–0 | — | 0–2 | ||
4 | Universitario | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 8 | −2 | 5 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–3 | — |
Pos | Grp | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | C | El Nacional | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 10 | Advance to Semifinals |
2 | A | Emelec | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 9 | |
3 | B | Alianza Lima | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 6 | +2 | 8 |
El Nacional | 1–2 | Deportivo Cali |
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Chalá 61' | Gaviria 31' Bonilla 47' |
Millonarios | 0–2 | Atlético Nacional |
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Zambrano 62' Morantes 77' |
Deportivo Cali | 1–2 | El Nacional |
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Escobar 69' | Valencia 59' Ferri 83' |
|
Penalties | ||
Zapata Bedoya Córdoba Dudamel Patiño Mosquera |
5–4 | Alvarado Ordóñez Ferri Burbano Arroyo Carcelén |
Atlético Nacional | 1–2 | Millonarios |
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Grisales 64' | Toro 71' Ramírez 81' |
Atlético Nacional | 3–1 | Deportivo Cali |
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Vásquez 29', 73' Perea 61' |
Zapata 49' |
Deportivo Cali | 0–1 | Atlético Nacional |
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Moranes 90' |
Copa Merconorte 1998 Winners |
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Atlético Nacional First Title |