The 1979 Copa América final were the final series to determine the champion of the

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, the 31st edition of the continental competition. The final was played as a

two-legged tie In sports (especially association football), a two-legged tie is a contest between two teams which comprises two matches or "legs", with each team as the home team in one leg. The winning team is usually determined by aggregate score, the sum ...

, with the team earning more points being the champion. After Paraguay and Chile won one game each finished tied on points, a

play-off The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eith ...

at a neutral venue was required. The first leg was held on November 28 at Defensores del Chaco in

Asunción Asunción (, ) is the capital and the largest city of Paraguay. The city stands on the eastern bank of the Paraguay River, almost at the confluence of this river with the Pilcomayo River. The Paraguay River and the Bay of Asunción in the north ...

, where Paraguay won 3–0. The second leg was held at Estadio Nacional in

Santiago Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile (), is the capital and largest city of Chile and one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is located in the country's central valley and is the center of the Santiago Metropolitan Regi ...

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 The José Amalfitani Stadium (also known as El Fortín de Liniers or Estadio Vélez Sarsfield) is a association football, football stadium located in the Liniers neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, near Liniers railway station. The venue is t ...

Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, controlled by the government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Argentina. It is located on the southwest of the Río de la Plata. Buenos Aires is classified as an Alpha− glob ...

.Paraguay, campeón de América en 1979
on ABC, 11 Dec 2018 After the play-off match finished in a 0–0 tie after

extra time Overtime (OT) or extra time (ET) is an additional period of play to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw where the scores are the same. In some sports, this extra period is played only if the game is required t ...

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 The CONMEBOL Libertadores, also known as Copa Libertadores de América (), is an annual continental club football competition organized by CONMEBOL since 1960. It is the highest level of competition in South American club football. The tournam ...

. A number of Olimpia players formed the basis of the national team that won the Copa América title, including Alicio Solalinde,

Hugo Talavera Hugo Ricardo Talavera Valdez (born 31 October 1949 in Asunción, Paraguay) is a former Association football, football midfielder and Forward (association football), forward. Career Talavera started his career at Club Nacional, Nacional of Barrio ...

, Roberto Paredes,

Evaristo Isasi Evaristo Isasi Colmán (born 26 November 1955) is a Paraguayan former footballer who played as a striker. Career He started his career in the youth divisions of his hometown team Club General Artigas of Mariano Roque Alonso. He had brief sti ...

and

Carlos Kiese Carlos Alberto Kiese Wiesner (born 1 June 1957) is a former football coach and sports journalist who served as Paraguay's defensive midfielder. Playing career As a player, was highlighted in the Selection of Paraguay and the Club Olimpia of h ...

.Garra y lujo: el camino de Paraguay
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Qualified teams

Venues

Route to the final

;Notes: * ''Paraguay won 4–3 on aggregate'' * ''Chile won 2–1 on aggregate''

Match details

First leg

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Second leg

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Play-off

''Paraguay won 3–1 on aggregate''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1979 Copa America Finals 1979 Copa América 1979 in South American football 1979 in Chilean football 1979 in Paraguayan football Chile national football team matches Paraguay national football team matches November 1979 sports events in South America December 1979 sports events in South America Copa América finals