View source for South American Championship of Champions

{{Infobox international football tournament
| image                = Campeonato sudamericano 1948 poster.jpg
| caption              = Official poster
| nextseason           = [[1960 Copa Libertadores|1960]]
|dates=February 11 – March 14|tourney_name=South American Championship|top_scorer={{flagicon|BOL}} [[Roberto Capparelli]]<br> (7 goals)|other_titles=Campeonato Sudamericano de Campeones|year=1948|num_teams=7 (from 7 confederations)|champion_other={{flagicon|BRA}} [[CR Vasco da Gama|Vasco da Gama]]|second_other={{flagicon|ARG}} [[CA River Plate|River Plate]]|count=1|venues=[[Santiago]], Chile|matches=21|goals=75}}
The '''South American Championship of Champions''' ({{langx|es|Campeonato Sudamericano de Campeones}},<ref>{{IPA|es|kampeoˈnato suðameɾiˈkano ðe kampeˈones}}</ref> {{langx|pt|Campeonato Sul-Americano de Campeões}}<ref>{{IPA|pt|kɐ̃pjõˈnatu ˈsuwɐmeɾiˈkɐnu dʒi kɐ̃piˈõjs}}</ref>) was a [[association football|football]] competition played in [[Santiago]], [[Chile]] in 1948 and the first continental-wide clubs football tournament in South America. Hosted and organized by Chilean club [[Colo Colo]] with the aid of then president of [[CONMEBOL]] [[Luis Valenzuela]], it was played between February 11 and March 17. Brazil's [[CR Vasco da Gama|Vasco da Gama]] won the competition after earning the most points in the [[Round-robin tournament|round-robin]] tournament. 

The tournament was the first tournament ever played to determine the South American club champion,<ref>The Portuguese language version of this article includes links to Brazilian and Argentine newspapers published in 1948 regarding the competition winner, CR Vasco da Gama, as South American club champion.</ref> and thus is seen as the precursor to the [[Copa Libertadores]]<ref>[https://dechalaca.com/hemeroteca/que-nivel/080606jagnotavasco Vasco da Gama 1948: Navegante entre Libertadores] by José Augusto Giuffra, 7 Jul 2008v</ref> and is considered, along with the [[Copa Aldao]] (also named "Copa Río de La Plata"), as an important stepping stone towards its creation.<ref name=quees>{{cite web|url=http://historiayfutbol.obolog.com/copa-libertadores-america-25746 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713023739/http://historiayfutbol.obolog.com/copa-libertadores-america-25746 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=July 13, 2012 |title=¿Qué es la Copa Libertadores de América? |publisher=Historia y Fútbol |language=Spanish |date=September 2, 2007 |accessdate=May 18, 2010 |first=Jose |last=Carluccio }}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120602105502/http://globoesporte.globo.com/ESP/Noticia/Futebol/Vasco/0,,MUL350188-4283,00.html Título sul-americano completa 60 anos] on GloboEsporte, 14 March 2008</ref>

== Overview ==
{{See also|Copa Aldao|History of the Copa Libertadores}}
Since the early 1910s, [[Argentina|Argentine]] and [[Uruguay]]an clubs disputed the Copa Aldao, a tournament played between the national champions of each nation's top national leagues. The great success of this tournament gave birth to the idea of a continental competition.

In 1929, the head executives of [[Club Nacional de Football|Nacional]], Roberto Espil and José Usera Bermúdez, idealized a competition between the national champions of each CONMEBOL member. After analyzing the geographical distributions and distances, Espil devised a project in 1946 which also included the runners-up of every national league. However, it was in 1948 that Colo-Colo's head executive, Robinson Alvarez Marín, and CONMEBOL president, Luis Valenzuela, finally set into motion the precursor to the Copa Libertadores: the "South American Championship of Champions", the first ever tournament played in order to determine the champion club of South America.<ref name=quees/><ref>La Nación; Historia del Fútbol Chileno, 1985</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120304050500/https://www.perfil.com/contenidos/2008/03/13/noticia_0054.html Hace 60 años, River perdía la gran chance de ser el primer club campeón de América] by Esteban Beckerman on Perfil.com, May 10, 2008</ref> 

[[File:Vasco river 1948.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]] v [[CR Vasco da Gama|Vasco da Gama]] match]]
The Vasco da Gama team, called ''[[Expresso da Vitória]]'', led by figures such as [[Augusto da Costa|Augusto]], [[Moacir Barbosa Nascimento|Barbosa]], [[Danilo Alvim|Danilo]], [[Friaça]], [[Ademir Marques de Menezes|Ademir]] and [[Francisco Aramburu|Chico]], came away with the trophy after a deciding 0–0 draw against [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]] on the last round of matches. The Argentine squad had arrived in Santiago with most of players of legendary team ''[[La Máquina]]'' such as [[José Manuel Moreno]], [[Ángel Labruna]] and [[Félix Loustau]], with the addition of rising star [[Alfredo Di Stéfano]].<ref>[http://www.netvasco.com.br/mauroprais/vasco/jogoes48.html Campeonato Sul-Americano de Campeões 1948 Um Expresso na História] by Mauro Prais on Vasco.net, 15 Jan 2010</ref>

Vasco da Gama had already defeated [[Club Deportivo Litoral (La Paz)|Lítoral]] and [[Club Sport Emelec|Emelec]] 1–0 each, thumped Nacional 3–1, trashed [[Club Centro Deportivo Municipal|Municipal]] 4–0 and tied 1–1 with the host club Colo-Colo. The competition was as successful financially as it was on the field: the average public attendance per game was 39,549 spectators and the tournament generated a gross of [[Chilean peso|CLP]] 9,493,483.<ref>''La Nación'', Tomo 8, pp. 15–16</ref>

== Participants ==
The aim of the organizers was to invite the champion of the most important competition of each South American country. Most notable in the competition were the host Colo-Colo, the Di Stéfano-inspired River Plate (''La Máquina''), the [[Atilio García]]-inspired Nacional, and Vasco da Gama,<ref name="FIFA's Page on Vasco da Gama">[https://web.archive.org/web/20080919093112/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/news/newsid=766799.html FIFA's Page on Vasco da Gama]</ref> the respective representatives of Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil, four countries whose clubs would go on to become the dominant powers of South American football, aggregately winning all Copa Libertadores from 1960 to 1978 and over 90% of the Copa Libertadores from 1960 to the present day.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!width=120px|Country
!width=150px|Team
! Qualification
|-
| {{ARG}} || [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]] || [[1947 Argentine Primera División|1947 Primera División]] champion
|-
| {{BOL}} || [[Club Deportivo Litoral (La Paz)|Litoral]] || 1947 La Paz champion {{refn|No national club championship existed then in Bolivia so the country was represented by the current champion of capital city La Paz.|group=note|name=nochampbol}}
|-
| {{flag|Brazil|1889}}  || |[[CR Vasco da Gama|Vasco da Gama]] || [[1947 Campeonato Carioca]] champion {{refn|No national club championship existed then in Brazil so the [[Campeonato Carioca|champion of Rio de Janeiro Federal District]], Vasco da Gama represented the country. They were given preference over [[Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras|Palmeiras]], the São Paulo state champion, since Rio won the 1946 [[Campeonato Brasileiro de Seleções Estaduais|Championship of State Teams]] and thus was considered the champion of the stronger league.|group=note|name=nochampbra}}
|-
|{{CHI}} || [[Colo-Colo]] || Host and [[1947 Primera División de Chile|1947 Primera División]] champion
|-
|{{ECU}}  || [[C.S. Emelec|Emelec]] || 1946 Guayaquil Championship champion {{refn|No national club championship existed then in Ecuador so Emelec, the Guayaquil Championship champion of 1946 was given preference over the Pichincha Championship champion as the [[1947 South American Championship]] matches were held all at Emelec's stadium ([[Estadio George Capwell]]) and having Emelec's as the cornerstone of Ecuador's national team squad.|group=note|name=nochampecu}}
|-
| {{flag|Peru|1825}} || [[Deportivo Municipal]] || [[1947 Peruvian Primera División|1947 Primera División]] runner-up {{refn|Deportivo Municipal took part in place of the Peruvian champions [[Atlético Chalaco]], who declined the invitation to participate.|group=note|name=peru}} 
|-
|{{URU}} || [[Club Nacional de Football|Nacional]] || [[1947 Uruguayan Primera División|1947 Primera División]] champion
|}

'''Notes''':
{{Reflist|group=note}}

'''Additional notes''':
* No organized club championship existed then in Colombia (that would eventually be commenced still in 1948, but later that year, in August, whereas the South American Club Championship was held in Feb-Mar 1948). 
* No reason is clear about the absence of a Paraguayan, though the [[Paraguayan Civil War (1947)|1947 Paraguayan Civil War]] may possibly have been the reason. 
* Venezuela would become a party to CONMEBOL only in 1952, 4 years after the South American Club Championship.

== Notable players ==
Players who were considered big names at the time participated in the tournament: Labruna, Loustau, [[Norberto Yácono]], Di Stefano, Moreno and [[Nestor Rossi]] for River Plate; [[Ademir de Menezes|Ademir Menezes]], [[Chico (footballer, born 1922)|Chico]] and [[Moacir Barbosa]] for Vasco da Gama; [[José Santamaría]] at the age of 19 was part of the Nacional squad, which [[Luis Volpi]] had joined a year earlier after a short spell with [[Inter Milan]].

== Final standings ==
{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL |show_matches=true|matches_style=FBR
|res_col_header=Q
|winpoints=2

|team1=VAS|name_VAS={{flagicon|BRA|1889}} [[CR Vasco da Gama|Vasco da Gama]]
|team2=RIV|name_RIV={{flagicon|ARG}} [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]]
|team3=NAC|name_NAC={{flagicon|URU}} [[Club Nacional de Football|Nacional]]
|team4=DMU|name_DMU={{flagicon|PER|1825}} [[Deportivo Municipal]]
|team5=COL|name_COL={{flagicon|CHI}} [[Colo-Colo]]
|team6=LIT|name_LIT={{flagicon|BOL}} [[Club Deportivo Litoral (La Paz)|Litoral]]
|team7=EME|name_EME={{flagicon|ECU}} [[C.S. Emelec|Emelec]]

|win_VAS=4|draw_VAS=2|loss_VAS=0|gf_VAS=12|ga_VAS=3
|win_RIV=4|draw_RIV=1|loss_RIV=1|gf_RIV=12|ga_RIV=4
|win_NAC=4|draw_NAC=0|loss_NAC=2|gf_NAC=16|ga_NAC=11
|win_DMU=3|draw_DMU=0|loss_DMU=3|gf_DMU=12|ga_DMU=11
|win_COL=2|draw_COL=2|loss_COL=2|gf_COL=11|ga_COL=11
|win_LIT=1|draw_LIT=0|loss_LIT=5|gf_LIT=9|ga_LIT=18
|win_EME=0|draw_EME=1|loss_EME=5|gf_EME=4|ga_EME=18

|col_1ST=gold|text_1ST=
|col_2ND=silver|text_2ND=
|col_3RD=#cc9966|text_3RD=
|result1=1ST |result2=2ND |result3=3RD
|update=complete|source=[https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copa48.html RSSSF]

|solid_cell=grey

|match_COL_DMU=1–3
|match_COL_EME=2–2
|match_COL_LIT=4–2
|match_COL_NAC=3–2
|match_COL_RIV=0–1
|match_COL_VAS=1–1

|match_DMU_COL=null
|match_DMU_EME=4–0
|match_DMU_LIT=3–1
|match_DMU_NAC=null
|match_DMU_RIV=null 
|match_DMU_VAS=null

|match_EME_COL=null
|match_EME_DMU=null 
|match_EME_LIT=null 
|match_EME_NAC=null 
|match_EME_RIV=null 
|match_EME_VAS=null

|match_LIT_COL=null
|match_LIT_DMU=null 
|match_LIT_EME=3–1
|match_LIT_NAC=null 
|match_LIT_RIV=null 
|match_LIT_VAS=null

|match_NAC_COL=null
|match_NAC_DMU=3–2
|match_NAC_EME=4–1
|match_NAC_LIT=3–1
|match_NAC_RIV=3–0
|match_NAC_VAS=null

|match_RIV_COL=null
|match_RIV_DMU=2–0
|match_RIV_EME=4–0
|match_RIV_LIT=5–1
|match_RIV_NAC=null 
|match_RIV_VAS=null

|match_VAS_COL=null
|match_VAS_DMU=4–0
|match_VAS_EME=1–0
|match_VAS_LIT=2–1
|match_VAS_NAC=4–1
|match_VAS_RIV=0–0

}}

== Match results ==
Complete list of matches played in the tournament:<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copa48det.html South American Club Championship 1948] - match details by Pablo Ciullini on the [[RSSSF]]</ref><ref>[https://www.ceroacero.es/edition_matches.php?id=22549 Campeonato Sudamericano de Campeones 1948] on Cero a Cero</ref>
{{Football box
|id         = Colo-Colo v Emelec 
|date       = 11 February 
|time       = {{UTZ|21:35|-4}}
|team1      = [[Colo-Colo]] {{flagicon|CHI}} 
|score      = 2–2 
|report     = [https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copa48det.html Report]
|team2      = {{flagicon|ECU}} [[C.S. Emelec|Emelec]] 
|goals1     = Aranda {{goal|46}}<br> Varela {{goal|57 }}
|goals2     = Jiménez {{goal|14}}<br> Yepes {{goal|17}}
|stadium    = [[Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos|Estadio Nacional]], [[Santiago]] 
|attendance = ~70,000
|referee    = Nobel Valentini (Uruguay)
}}
----
{{football box
|id         = Vasco da Gama v Litoral 
|date       = 14 February 
|time       = 
|team1      = [[CR Vasco da Gama|Vasco da Gama]] {{flagicon|BRA|1889}} 
|score      = 2–1
|report     = [https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copa48det.html Report]
|team2      = {{flagicon|BOL}} [[Club Deportivo Litoral (La Paz)|Litoral]] 
|goals1     = Lelé {{goal|9||67}}
|goals2     = Sandoval {{goal|70}}
|stadium    = [[Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos|Estadio Nacional]], [[Santiago]] 
|attendance = ~50,000
|referee    = C. Leeson (Chile)
}}
----
{{football box
|id         = Nacional v Deportivo Municipal 
|date       = 14 February 
|time       = 
|team1      = [[Club Nacional de Football|Nacional]] {{flagicon|URU}} 
|score      = 3–2 
|report     = [https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copa48det.html Report]
|team2      = {{flagicon|PER|1825}} [[Deportivo Municipal]] 
|goals1     = [[Walter Gómez|W. Gómez]] {{goal|11||27}}<br> J. García {{goal|51}}
|goals2     = Cabada {{goal|29}} <br> Guzmán {{goal|66}}
|stadium    = [[Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos|Estadio Nacional]], [[Santiago]] 
|attendance = ~50,000
|referee    = Eduardo Forte (Argentina)
}}
----
{{football box
|id         = River Plate v Emelec 
|date       = 18 February 
|time       = 
|team1      = [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]] {{flagicon|ARG}}
|score      = 4–0 
|report     = [https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copa48det.html Report]
|team2      = {{flagicon|ECU}} [[C.S. Emelec|Emelec]] 
|goals1     = Martínez {{goal|10||47|pen.}} <br> [[Félix Loustau|Loustau]] {{goal|25||40}}
|goals2     = 
|stadium    = [[Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos|Estadio Nacional]], [[Santiago]]
|attendance = ~70,000
|referee    =  Nobel Valentini (Uruguay)
}}
----
{{football box
|id         = Vasco da Gama v Nacional
|date       = 18 February 
|time       = 
|team1      = [[CR Vasco da Gama|Vasco da Gama]] {{flagicon|BRA|1889}} 
|score      = 4–1 
|report     = [https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copa48det.html Report]
|team2      = {{flagicon|URU}} [[Club Nacional de Football|Nacional]] 
|goals1     = Adhemir {{goal|12}}<br> Maneca {{goal|66}} <br> Danilo {{goal|68}}<br> Friaca {{goal|89}}
|goals2     = [[Walter Gómez|W. Gómez]] {{goal|25}}
|stadium    = [[Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos|Estadio Nacional]], [[Santiago]] 
|attendance = ~70,000
|referee    = H. Madrid (Chile)
}}
----
{{football box
|id         = River Plate v Deportivo Municipal 
|date       = 21 February 
|time       = 
|team1      = [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]] {{flagicon|ARG}}
|score      = 2–0 
|report     = [https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copa48det.html Report]
|team2      = {{flagicon|PER|1825}} [[Deportivo Municipal]]
|goals1     = Loustau {{goal|61}}<br> Labruna {{goal|71}}
|goals2     = 
|stadium    = [[Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos|Estadio Nacional]], [[Santiago]] 
|attendance = ~49,000
|referee    = Nobel Valentini (Uruguay)
}}
----
{{football box
|id         = Colo-Colo v Litoral 
|date       = 21 February 
|time       = 
|team1      = [[Colo-Colo]] {{flagicon|CHI}} 
|score      = 4–2 
|report     = [https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copa48det.html Report]
|team2      = {{flagicon|BOL}} [[Club Deportivo Litoral (La Paz)|Litoral]] 
|goals1     = López {{goal|13||37|pen||52}}<br> Saenz {{goal|82}}
|goals2     = Capparelli {{goal|38||67}}
|stadium    = [[Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos|Estadio Nacional]], [[Santiago]]
|attendance = ~49,000
|referee    = A. da Gama (Brazil)
}}
----
{{football box
|id         = Nacional v Litoral 
|date       = 25 February 
|time       = 
|team1      = [[Club Nacional de Football|Nacional]] {{flagicon|URU}} 
|score      = 3–1 
|report     = [https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copa48det.html Report]
|team2      = {{flagicon|BOL}} [[Club Deportivo Litoral (La Paz)|Litoral]] 
|goals1     = [[Atilio García|A. García]] {{goal|40||55}}<br> Orlandi {{goal|66}}
|goals2     = Rodríguez {{goal|60}}
|stadium    = [[Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos|Estadio Nacional]], [[Santiago]] 
|attendance = 17,223
|referee    = Eduardo Forte (Argentina)
}}
----
{{football box
|id         = Vasco da Gama v Deportivo Municipal 
|date       = 25 February 
|time       = 
|team1      = [[CR Vasco da Gama|Vasco da Gama]] {{flagicon|BRA|1889}} 
|score      = 4–0 
|report     = [https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copa48det.html Report]
|team2      = {{flagicon|PER|1825}} [[Deportivo Municipal]] 
|goals1     = Lelé {{goal|12}}<br> Friaca {{goal|58||70}} <br> Ismael {{goal|61}}
|goals2     = 
|stadium    = [[Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos|Estadio Nacional]], [[Santiago]] 
|attendance = 17,223
|referee    = J. White (Chile)
}}
----
{{football box
|id         = Vasco da Gama v Emelec 
|date       = 28 February
|time       = 
|team1      = [[CR Vasco da Gama|Vasco da Gama]] {{flagicon|BRA|1889}} 
|score      = 1–0 
|report     = [https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copa48det.html Report]
|team2      = {{flagicon|ECU}} [[C.S. Emelec|Emelec]] 
|goals1     = Ismael {{goal|47}}
|goals2     = 
|stadium    = [[Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos|Estadio Nacional]], [[Santiago]] 
|attendance = 
|referee    = H. Madrid (Chile)
}}
----
{{football box
|id         = Deportivo Municipal v Colo-Colo 
|date       = 28 February
|time       = 
|team1      = [[Deportivo Municipal]] {{flagicon|PER|1825}} 
|score      = 3–1 
|report     = [https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copa48det.html Report]
|team2      = {{flagicon|CHI}} [[Colo-Colo]] 
|goals1     = Mosquera {{goal|57||60}} <br> Torres {{goal|85}}
|goals2     = Varela {{goal|46}}
|stadium    = [[Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos|Estadio Nacional]], [[Santiago]] 
|attendance = 
|referee    = A. da Gama (Brazil)
}}
----
{{football box
|id         = Litoral v Emelec 
|date       = 4 March 
|time       = 
|team1      = [[Club Deportivo Litoral (La Paz)|Litoral]] {{flagicon|BOL}} 
|score      = 3–1 
|report     = [https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copa48det.html Report]
|team2      = {{flagicon|ECU}} [[Club Sport Emelec|Emelec]] 
|goals1     = Capparelli {{goal|23||48||87|pen}}
|goals2     = Mendoza {{goal|70}}
|stadium    = [[Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos|Estadio Nacional]], [[Santiago]] 
|referee    = J. White (Chile)
}}
----
{{football box
|id         = Nacional v River Plate 
|date       = 4 March 
|time       = 
|team1      = [[Club Nacional de Football|Nacional]] {{flagicon|URU}} 
|score      = 3–0 
|report     = [https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copa48det.html Report]
|team2      = {{flagicon|ARG}} [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]] 
|goals1     = A. García {{goal|48}}<br> Castro {{goal|57}}<br>Orlandi {{goal|59}}
|goals2     = 
|stadium    = [[Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos|Estadio Nacional]], [[Santiago]] 
|attendance = 
|referee    = C. Paredes (Bolivia)
}}
----
{{football box
|id         = Deportivo Municipal v Emelec 
|date       = 7 March 
|time       = 
|team1      = [[Deportivo Municipal]] {{flagicon|PER|1825}} 
|score      = 4–0 
|report     = [https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copa48det.html Report]
|team2      = {{flagicon|ECU}} [[C.S. Emelec|Emelec]] 
|goals1     = Mosquera {{goal|12||51}} <br> Drago {{goal|35}}<br> Perales {{goal|48}}
|goals2     = 
|stadium    = [[Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos|Estadio Nacional]], [[Santiago]] 
|attendance = 
|referee    = J. White (Chile)
}}
----
{{football box
|id         = Colo-Colo v Vasco da Gama 
|date       = 7 March 
|time       = 
|team1      = [[Colo-Colo]] {{flagicon|CHI}} 
|score      = 1–1 
|report     = [https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copa48det.html Report]
|team2      = {{flagicon|BRA|1889}} [[CR Vasco da Gama|Vasco da Gama]] 
|goals1     = Farías {{goal|46}}
|goals2     = Friaca {{goal|67}}
|stadium    = [[Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos|Estadio Nacional]], [[Santiago]] 
|attendance = 
|referee    = C. Paredes (Bolivia)
}}
----
{{football box
|id         = River Plate v Litoral 
|date       = 10 March 
|time       = 
|team1      = [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]] {{flagicon|ARG}} 
|score      = 5–1 
|report     = [https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copa48det.html Report]
|team2      = {{flagicon|BOL}} [[Club Deportivo Litoral (La Paz)|Litoral]] 
|goals1     = Di Stéfano {{goal|11||47||63}} <br> [[José Manuel Moreno|Moreno]] {{goal|29}}<br>  Loustau {{goal|81}}
|goals2     = Capparelli {{goal|82|pen}}
|stadium    = [[Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos|Estadio Nacional]], [[Santiago]] 
|attendance = 
|referee    = J. White (Chile)
}}
----
{{football box
|id         = Colo-Colo v Nacional 
|date       = 10 March 
|time       = 
|team1      = [[Colo-Colo]] {{flagicon|CHI}} 
|score      = 3–2 
|report     = [https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copa48det.html Report]
|team2      = {{flagicon|URU}} [[Club Nacional de Football|Nacional]] 
|goals1     = Lorca {{goal|15}}<br> López {{goal|70|pen}}<br> Peñaloza {{goal|74}}
|goals2     = A. García {{goal|4}}<br> [[Walter Gómez|W. Gómez]] {{goal|47}}
|stadium    = [[Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos|Estadio Nacional]], [[Santiago]] 
|attendance = 
|referee    = A. da Gama (Brazil)
}}
----
{{football box
|id         = Nacional v Emelec 
|date       = 14 March 
|time       = 
|team1      = [[Club Nacional de Football|Nacional]] {{flagicon|URU}} 
|score      = 4–1 
|report     = [https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copa48det.html Report]
|team2      = {{flagicon|ECU}} [[C.S. Emelec|Emelec]] 
|goals1     = Gambetta {{goal|5}}<br> [[Atilio García|A. García]] {{goal|29}}<br> Orlandi {{goal|37}}<br> Gambetta {{goal|56}}
|goals2     = Fernández {{goal|87|pen}}
|stadium    = [[Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos|Estadio Nacional]], [[Santiago]] 
|attendance = 
|referee    = S. Bustamante (Chile)
}}
----
{{football box
|id         = Vasco da Gama v River Plate 
|date       = 14 March 
|time       = 
|team1      = [[CR Vasco da Gama|Vasco da Gama]] {{flagicon|BRA|1889}} 
|score      = 0–0 
|report     = [https://www.turiver.com/foros/futbol-internacional/90722-copa-conmebol-sudamericana-2018-a/12.html Report]
|team2      = {{flagicon|ARG}} [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]] 
|goals1     = 
|goals2     = 
|stadium    = [[Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos|Estadio Nacional]]
|location = [[Santiago]] 
|attendance = 
|referee    = Nobel Valentini ([[Uruguayan Football Association|Uruguay]])
}}
{| style="width:100%" class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
!{{smaller|Team details}}
|-
|
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{{Football kit
| pattern_la = _whiteborder
| pattern_b  = _whiterightsash vasco 
| pattern_ra = _whiteborder
| pattern_sh =
| pattern_so = _blackstripe
| leftarm    =000000
| body       =000000
| rightarm   =000000 
| shorts     =ffffff 
| socks      =ffffff
| title      = {{nowrap|Vasco da Gama}}
}}
{{col-2}}
{{Football kit
| pattern_la =
| pattern_b  = _River 1905
| pattern_ra =
| pattern_sh =
| pattern_so = 
| leftarm    =ffffff
| body       =ffffff
| rightarm   =ffffff 
| shorts     =000000 
| socks      =999999
| title      = River Plate
}}
{{col-end}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{| style="font-size:90%; margin:0.2em auto;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
|-
!width="25"| !!width="25"|
|-
|GK || || {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Moacir Barbosa Nascimento|Barbosa]] 
|-
|DF || || {{flagicon|BRA}} Augusto
|-
|DF || || {{flagicon|BRA}} Wilson || || {{suboff|66}}
|-
|MF || || {{flagicon|BRA}} Ely
|-
|MF || || {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Danilo Alvim|Danilo]]
|-
|MF || 	|| {{flagicon|BRA}} Jorge
|-
|FW || || {{flagicon|BRA}} Djalma
|-
|FW || || {{flagicon|BRA}} Maneca
|-
|FW |||| {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Friaça]]
|-
|FW |||| {{flagicon|BRA}} Ismael
|-
|FW || || {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Francisco Aramburu|Chico]] || || {{sent off|0|74}}
|-
|colspan=3|'''Substitutes:'''
|-
|DF ||  || {{flagicon|ARG}} Ramón R. Raffanelli || || {{subon|66}}
|-
|colspan=3|'''Manager:'''
|-
|colspan=4|{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Flavio Costa]]
|}
{{col-2}}
{| cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size:90%; margin:0.2em auto;"
|-
!width="25"| !!width="25"|
|-
|GK || || {{flagicon|ARG}} Héctor Grisetti 
|-
|DF || || {{flagicon|ARG}} Ricardo Vaghi
|-
|DF || || {{flagicon|ARG}} Eduardo Rodríguez
|-
|MF || || {{flagicon|ARG}} [[Norberto Yácono]] || || {{suboff|64}}
|-
|MF || || {{flagicon|ARG}} [[Néstor Rossi]]
|-
|MF || 	|| {{flagicon|ARG}} José Ramos || || {{suboff|9}}
|-
|FW || || {{flagicon|ARG}} Héctor Reyes || || {{suboff|46}}
|-
|FW || || {{flagicon|ARG}} [[José Manuel Moreno|José M. Moreno]]
|-
|FW |||| {{flagicon|ARG}} [[Alfredo Di Stéfano]]
|-
|FW || || {{flagicon|ARG}} [[Ángel Labruna]] || || {{suboff|63}}
|-
|FW || || {{flagicon|ARG}} [[Félix Loustau]]
|-
|colspan=3|'''Substitutes:'''
|-
|DF || || {{flagicon|ARG}} Héctor Ferrari || || {{subon|9}}
|-
|FW || || {{flagicon|ARG}} [[Juan Carlos Muñoz (footballer, born 1919)|Juan C. Muñoz]] || || {{subon|46}}
|-
|FW || || {{flagicon|ARG}} [[Óscar Coll]] || || {{subon|63}}
|-
|MF || || {{flagicon|ARG}} Osvaldo Méndez || || {{subon|64}} {{sent off|0|74}}
|-
|colspan=4|'''Manager:'''
|-
|colspan="4"| {{flagicon|ARG}} [[José María Minella]]
|}
{{col-end}}
|}
----
{{football box
|id         = Deportivo Municipal v Litoral 
|date       = 18 March 
|time       = 
|team1      = [[Deportivo Municipal]] {{flagicon|PER|1825}} 
|score      = 3–1 
|report     = [https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copa48det.html Report]
|team2      = {{flagicon|BOL}} [[Club Deportivo Litoral (La Paz)|Litoral]]
|goals1     = López {{goal|15||80}}<br> Torres {{goal|37}}
|goals2     = Capparelli {{goal|48}}
|stadium    = [[Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos|Estadio Nacional]], [[Santiago]] 
|attendance = 
|referee    = J. White (Chile)
}}
----
{{football box
|id         = River Plate v Colo-Colo 
|date       = 18 March 
|time       = 
|team1      = [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]] {{flagicon|ARG}} 
|score      = 1–0 
|report     = [https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copa48det.html Report]
|team2      = {{flagicon|CHI}} [[Colo-Colo]] 
|goals1     = Di Stéfano {{goal|61}}
|goals2     = 
|stadium    = [[Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos|Estadio Nacional]], [[Santiago]] 
|attendance = 
|referee    = L. Fernández (Uruguay)
}}

== Top scorers ==
List of the competition top scorers:<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/copa48det.html Match details] on the RSSSF</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Rank
!Player
!Club
!Goals
|-
| {{center|1}} || {{flagicon|BOL}} [[Roberto Capparelli]] || {{flagicon|BOL}} [[Club Deportivo Litoral (La Paz)|Litoral]] || {{center|7}}
|-
| {{center|2}} || {{flagicon|URU}} [[Atilio García]] || {{flagicon|URU}} [[Club Nacional de Football|Nacional]] || {{center|5}}
|-
| rowspan=3| {{center|3}} || {{flagicon|ARG}} [[Alfredo Di Stéfano]] || {{flagicon|ARG}} [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]] || {{center|4}}
|-
| {{flagicon|CHI}} [[Pedro Hugo López|Pedro López]] || {{flagicon|CHI}} [[Colo-Colo]] || {{center|4}}
|-
| {{flagicon|PER}} [[Máximo Mosquera]] || {{flagicon|PER}} [[Deportivo Municipal]] || {{center|4}}
|-
| {{center|3}} || {{flagicon|BRA}} Lelé || {{flagicon|BRA}} [[CR Vasco da Gama|Vasco da Gama]] || {{center|3}}
|}

== Legacy ==

=== Inspiration for the creation of the UEFA Champions League ===

The tournament was the first ever continent-wide club football competition based on the "champions cup" model and intended to determine the club champion of a continental area, and thus was the inspiration for the creation of the [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]] in Europe. In interviews to the Brazilian sports TV programme ''Globo Esporte'' in 2015 and Chilean newspaper ''El Mercúrio'' in 2018, French journalist [[Jacques Ferran]] (recognised by [[UEFA]] as one of the founding fathers of the [[UEFA Champions League]], together with Gabriel Hanot)<ref>[https://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/240459.pdf UEFA: 50 Years of the European Cup]</ref> said that the South American Championship of Champions was the inspiration for the European Cup: "How could Europe, which wanted to be ahead of the rest of the world, not be able to accomplish a competition of the same kind of the South American one? We needed to follow that example."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052701/http://globotv.globo.com/globocom/liga-dos-campeoes-da-uefa/v/especial-liga-dos-campeoes-completa-60-anos-e-neymar-ajuda-a-contar-essa-historia/4168641/ Especial: Liga dos Campeões completa 60 anos, e Neymar ajuda a contar essa história] on Globo Espoerte, 10 May 2015 (archived)</ref><ref>[https://digital.elmercurio.com/2018/03/13/P/Q03B3SAB?fromSearch=1&q=sudamericano+de%20campeones%20Ferran%201948&GotoArticle=QT3BI2B2 A 70 Años del Torneo que Inspiró la Champions y La Copa Libertadores] on ''El Mercúrio'', Chile, March 13th 2018</ref>

=== Recognition by CONMEBOL as a precursor to Copa Libertadores ===
[[File:Alfredo Di Stefano.jpg|170px|thumb|[[Alfredo Di Stéfano]] was the most famous footballer at the competition]]
Vasco da Gama, though always considered themselves as the first South American club champions, had never asked [[CONMEBOL]] for recognition of that honor. However, in 1996 a CONMEBOL book, ''30 Años de Pasión y Fiesta'' (30 Years of Passion and Party)<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20120713023739/http://historiayfutbol.obolog.com/copa-libertadores-america-25746 Que es la Libertadores?]}}</ref> was discovered by Vasco da Gama executives. This book told the story of the Copa Libertadores (played from 1960 on), stating that the tournament of 1948 was its ''antecedente'' (predecessor). According to the CONMEBOL Press Release of April 29th, 1996,<ref name=pressrel>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150113052721/http://www.casaca.com.br/home/2012/02/07/em-busca-do-tri-pois-bi-sul-americano-ja-somos/?doing_wp_cron=1331031357 CONMEBOL press release], 29 Apr 1996</ref>  Vasco da Gama's executives asked CONMEBOL's Executive Committee for the recognition of the aforementioned honor, and the acceptance of Vasco da Gama as a participant at [[Supercopa Libertadores]], then a CONMEBOL competition to which were admitted only the previous Copa Libertadores champions (''with Supercopa Libertadores not admitting the participation of winners of other official CONMEBOL competitions, such as [[Copa CONMEBOL]], but only the winners of Copa Libertadores, so that Vasco da Gama participation in Supercopa based on its 1948 conquest would result, in practice, in an equalisation between the 1948 championship and the Copa Libertadores.'').<ref>[http://www.pla.net.py/csf/noticias/supercopaconmebol.html Note at the former CONMEBOL web-site] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821021055/http://www.pla.net.py/csf/noticias/supercopaconmebol.html |date=2008-08-21 }}</ref> 

In April 1996, CONMEBOL's Executive Committee recognised the meaning and importance of the 1948 competition as the precursor to the Copa Libertadores (though CONMEBOL has not come to regard it as an official CONMEBOL competition), thus Vasco da Gama participated at the [[1997 Supercopa Libertadores]]. As stated by the CONMEBOL Executive Committee, Vasco da Gama's request for Supercopa participation was accepted "''in recognition of the sporting achievement and its historical truth''" (as written in the 1996 CONMEBOL press release on the aforementioned recognition).<ref name=pressrel/> In 2014, CONMEBOL website congratulated Vasco da Gama on the club's 116th anniversary, stating: "Vasco won the first tournament of clubs at a continental level in 1948, which would 12 years later become the Copa Libertadores which they won in 1998, coinciding with the centenary of their founding".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180615191520/http://www.conmebol.com/en/content/vasco-da-gama-celebrates-116-years "Vasco Da Gama celebrates 116 years"] on CONMEBOL website, August 21, 2014</ref> The 1948 South American Club Championship has been regarded as a precursor to Copa Libertadores also at the [[FIFA]] website.<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/sasup.html Supercopa Libertadores overview] on the RSSSF</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130317235450/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=2030027.html FIFA.com: Barbosa-inspired Vasco become the maiden kings. Thursday 14 March 2013. Retrieved with the web archive on Nov 9th 2023.]</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Copa Libertadores]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Commons category}}

{{CR Vasco da Gama matches}}
{{River Plate matches}}

[[Category:1948 in South American football]]
[[Category:Defunct international club association football competitions in South America]]
[[Category:International club association football competitions hosted by Chile]]
[[Category:Club Atlético River Plate matches]]
[[Category:CR Vasco da Gama matches]]
[[Category:February 1948 sports events in South America]]
[[Category:March 1948 sports events in South America]]
[[Category:1948 in Chilean sport]]
[[Category:1940s in Santiago, Chile]]