ONE NIGHT IN MONTEVIDEO

June 15 2011 and the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay is the venue for the first leg of the 2011 Copa Libertadores final.  Contesting the match are local heroes Peńarol and a resurgent Neymar laden Santos from Brazil. 

Only Argentinean sides Boca and Independiente have claimed more Libertadores trophies than the famous Uruguayan club, but no team has made more appearances in the competition or contested more finals.  However this was Los Carboneros’ first appearance in a Libertadores final since 1987 and their tag as underdogs did little to dampen local enthusiasm for the first leg at the Centenario.

A nervy and predictably cagey affair ensued with the home side perhaps edging play in a close encounter which finished 0-0.  The second leg, played a week later in Brazil, was, somewhat inevitably a far more one sided affair with Santos’ winning 2-1 on the night and by the same aggregate score to clinch the Libertadores trophy.

However it’s the first leg that we focus on today and a sublime photo journal from Montevideo based photographer Jimmy Baikovicius which captures so much, as we’re sure you’ll agree.

You can view the One night in Montevideo gallery here and see more from Jimmy here.