Copa Merconorte

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Copa Merconorte (English: Merconorte Cup) was a football competition played from 1998 to 2001 by clubs from Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and later United States, Costa Rica and Mexico. The name was a counterpart to the Copa Mercosur, which was based on the actual Mercosur economic pact between Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile (no Merconorte trade bloc actually exists). It was replaced by Copa Sudamericana in 2002.

[edit] Format

In 1998 and 1999, twelve teams played in the competition. The teams were divided in three groups of four teams each. The matches were played in two legs. The group winners and the best runner-up qualified for the semifinals. The semifinals were played in two legs, as well as the finals. In 1999, the Bolivian teams played a qualifying playoff before the first phase of Copa Merconorte.

In 2000 and 2001, sixteen teams played in the competition. The teams were divided in four groups of four teams each. The matches were played in two legs. The group winners qualified for the semifinals. The semifinals and the finals were played in two legs.

[edit] Champions

Year	Final			Semifinalists
Year	Winner	Score	Runner-up	Semifinalists
1998 Details	Atlético Nacional ( Colombia)	3 - 1 1 - 0 Aggregate 4 - 1	Deportivo Cali ( Colombia)	El Nacional ( Ecuador)	Millonarios ( Colombia)
1999 Details	América de Cali ( Colombia)	1 - 2 1 - 0 Aggregate 2 - 2 (pen) 5 - 3	Independiente Santa Fe ( Colombia)	Alianza Lima ( Peru)	Caracas ( Venezuela)
2000 Details	Atlético Nacional ( Colombia)	0 - 0 2 - 1 Aggregate 2 - 1	Millonarios ( Colombia)	Emelec ( Ecuador)	Chivas ( Mexico)
2001 Details	Millonarios ( Colombia)	1 - 1 1 - 1 Aggregate 2 - 2 (pen) 3 - 1	Emelec ( Ecuador)	Necaxa ( Mexico)	Santos Laguna ( Mexico)