1979 Copa América Finals

The 1979 Copa América Finals were the final series to determine the champion of the 1979 Copa América, the 31st. edition of this continental competition. The final was played in the two-legged tie system, with the team earning more points being the champion. In case both teams finished tied on points, a play-off match would be played in neutral venue, which finally happened as Paraguay and Chile had won one game each.

1979 Copa América Finals

Event	1979 Copa América
Paraguay Chile
2–2 on points. A play-off was played on a neutral ground to determine the winner. As the play-off finished tied, Paraguay won 3–1 on aggregate goals.
First leg
Paraguay Chile 3 0
Date	28 November 1979
Venue	Defensores del Chaco, Asunción
Referee	Luis Gregorio da Rosa (Uruguay)
Attendance	36,700
Second leg
Chile Paraguay 1 0
Date	5 December 1979
Venue	Estadio Nacional, Santiago
Referee	Barreto (Uruguay)
Attendance	51,200
Play-off
Chile Paraguay 0 0
After extra time
Date	11 December 1979
Venue	José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires
Referee	Arnaldo Coelho (Brazil)
Attendance	30,000

The first leg was held on November 28 in Defensores del Chaco of Asunción, where Paraguay beat Chile 3–0. The second leg was held in Estadio Nacional of Santiago on November 5, where Chile won 1–0. As both teams tied 2–2 on points, a play-off match was held on December 11 in Vélez Sarsfield's venue, José Amalfitani Stadium in Buenos Aires.[1] After the play-off match also finished in a tie (0–0 after extra time), Paraguay was crowned champion on aggregate goals (3–1), winning its second Copa América title.[2]

Paraguay won the competition in the year when also a club team from the country, Olimpia, won its first Copa Libertadores. Some Olimpia players formed the basis of the national team that played the Copa América, with Alicio Solalinde, Hugo Talavera, Roberto Paredes, Evaristo Isasi and Carlos Kiese among them.[3]