# 1979 Copa América final

The 1979 Copa América final were the final series to determine the champion of the 1979 Copa América, the 31st edition of the continental competition.
The final was played as a two-legged tie, with the team earning more points being the champion. After Paraguay and Chile won one game each finished tied on points, a play-off at a neutral venue was required.
The first leg was held on November 28 at Defensores del Chaco in Asunción, where Paraguay won 3–0. The second leg was held at Estadio Nacional in Santiago on December 5, where Chile won 1–0.
As both teams were 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.
After the play-off match finished in a 0–0 tie after extra time had expired, Paraguay were declared champions on aggregate (3–1), therefore winning its second Copa América title.
Paraguay won the competition in the same year that a club from the country, Olimpia, won its first Copa Libertadores. A number of Olimpia players formed the basis of the national team that won the Copa América title, including Alicio Solalinde, Hugo Talavera, Roberto Paredes, Evaristo Isasi and Carlos Kiese.

## Qualified teams

| Team | Previous final app. |
| Paraguay | 1922, 1949, 1953 |
| Chile | (None) |
Bold indicates winning years

## Route to the final

| Paraguay | Paraguay | Round | Chile | Chile |
| Opponent | Result | Group stage | Opponent | Result |
| Ecuador | 2–1 | Match 1 | Venezuela | 1–1 |
| Ecuador | 2–0 | Match 2 | Colombia | 0–1 |
| Uruguay | 0–0 | Match 3 | Venezuela | 7–0 |
| Uruguay | 2–2 | Match 4 | Colombia | 2–0 |
| Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  Paraguay 422063+36  Uruguay 41215504  Ecuador 410347−32 | Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  Paraguay 422063+36  Uruguay 41215504  Ecuador 410347−32 | Final standings | Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  Chile 4211102+85  Colombia 421152+35  Venezuela 4022112−112 | Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  Chile 4211102+85  Colombia 421152+35  Venezuela 4022112−112 |
| Opponent | Result | Knockout stage | Opponent | Result |
| Brazil | 2–1 | Semi-finals | Peru | 2–1 |
| Brazil | 2–2 | Semi-finals | Peru | 0–0 |

### Notes

* Paraguay won 4–3 on aggregate
* Chile won 2–1 on aggregate

## Match details
### First leg

| Paraguay | Chile |
| GK | 1 | Roberto Fernández |
| RB | 2 | Juan Espínola |
| CB | 3 | Roberto Paredes | 79' |
| CB | 4 | Flaminio Sosa |
| LB | 5 | Juan Torales |
| CM | 6 | Luis Ernesto Torres | 62' |
| CM | 7 | Carlos Kiese |
| CM | 8 | Julio César Romero |
| RW | 9 | Evaristo Isasi |
| CF | 10 | Milcíades Morel |
| LW | 11 | Eugenio Morel |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | | Aldo Florentín | 62' |
| DF | | Cristín Cibils | 79' |
| Manager: ||
| Ranulfo Miranda ||
| GK | Mario Osbén |
| RB | Mario Galindo |
| CB | René Valenzuela |
| CB | Alberto Quintano |
| LB | Enzo Escobar |
| RM | Carlos Rivas |
| CM | Mario Soto |
| CM | Eduardo Bonvallet | 46' |
| LM | Manuel Rojas |
| CF | Carlos Caszely |
| CF | Oscar Fabbiani |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | Víctor Estay | 46' |
| Manager: ||
| Luis Santibáñez ||

### Second leg

| Chile | Paraguay |
| GK | 1 | Mario Osbén |
| RB | 10 | Mario Galindo |
| CB | 8 | René Valenzuela |
| CB | 16 | Elías Figueroa |
| LB | 11 | Enzo Escobar |
| RM | 17 | Carlos Rivas |
| CM | 24 | Manuel Rojas | 85' |
| CM | 14 | Eduardo Bonvallet | | 17' |
| LM | 22 | Oscar Fabbiani | 56' |
| CF | 21 | Carlos Caszely |
| CF | 23 | Leonardo Véliz |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 19 | Víctor Estay | 56' |
| MF | 20 | Miguel Neira | 85' |
| Manager: ||
| Luis Santibáñez ||
| GK | 12 | Roberto Fernández |
| RB | 4 | Alicio Solalinde |
| CB | 16 | Roberto Paredes |
| CB | 21 | Flaminio Sosa |
| LB | 7 | Juan Torales |
| CM | 8 | Julio César Romero |
| CM | 11 | Carlos Kiese | 46' |
| CM | 14 | Hugo Talavera | 80' |
| RW | 19 | Evaristo Isasi |
| CF | 9 | Milcíades Morel |
| LW | 17 | Eugenio Morel | 17' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 10 | Aldo Florentín | 46' |
| MF | | Roberto Cabañas | 80' |
| Manager: ||
| Ranulfo Miranda ||

### Play-off

| Paraguay | Chile |
| GK | 12 | Roberto Fernández |
| RB | 6 | Juan Espínola |
| CB | 21 | Roberto Paredes |
| CB | 4 | Flaminio Sosa |
| LB | 7 | Juan Torales |
| CM | 10 | Aldo Florentín |
| CM | 11 | Carlos Kiese |
| CM | 8 | Julio César Romero |
| RW | 22 | Amado Pérez | 85' |
| CF | 14 | Milcíades Morel |
| LW | 17 | Osvaldo Aquino | 61' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | | Luis Ernesto Torres | 61' |
| DF | | Cristín Cibils | 85' |
| Manager: ||
| Ranulfo Miranda ||
| GK | 1 | Mario Osbén |
| RB | 10 | Mario Galindo |
| CB | 13 | René Valenzuela |
| CB | 16 | Elías Figueroa |
| LB | 11 | Enzo Escobar |
| CM | 17 | Carlos Rivas |
| CM | 13 | Rodolfo Dubó | 90' |
| CM | 24 | Manuel Rojas |
| RW | 23 | Leonardo Véliz |
| CF | 21 | Carlos Caszely |
| LW | 22 | Oscar Fabbiani | 61' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 15 | Patricio Yáñez | 61' |
| MF | 19 | Víctor Estay | 90' |
| Manager: ||
| Luis Santibáñez ||
Paraguay won 3–1 on aggregate