INDEPENDIENTE DEL VALLE: THE MINNOWS OF ECUADOR TAKING ON SOUTH AMERICA’S GIANTS

The final four-team group stage of Ecuador's long and complicated third division concluded in December 2007. Independiente José Terán, a little team from Sangolqu on the outskirts of the capital, Quito, were crowned winners and would move into the second division for the first time in their history.

Surprisingly, Independiente, who play their home games at a 7,000-seater stadium, climbed out of Serie B at the second attempt, finishing as runners-up thanks to the promising and lightning-quick young winger Jefferson Montero, whom they had signed from top-flight side Emelec.

They battled in their first and second seasons in the Premier League, narrowly avoiding relegation on both occasions. However, with new Uruguayan manager Pablo Repetto at the helm and a new name, Independiente del Valle finished fourth and qualified for their first Copa Sudamericana in 2012.

In 2013, they finished second and qualified for the Copa Libertadores, South America's most important club event, the following year. In their maiden attempt at the Libertadores, they just missed out on the last-16, losing on goal difference to eventual winners San Lorenzo of Argentina.

They tried again in 2015, but were eliminated in the last qualifying round. They have another shot at the continent's top table this year. They had to go through the qualifying round again after finishing third in Ecuador's domestic campaign last year, and had it not been for a hefty slice of luck, they could have fallen at the first hurdle once more.

The group stage draw did Independiente no favors, grouping them with Chilean heavyweights and serial champs Colo-Colo and undoubtedly the strongest Brazilian team in this year's campaign, Atlético Mineiro.

Due to the small capacity of their own stadium, Independiente's home games in the Libertadores are played at the Estádio Olimpco Athualpa in Quito's center, 10 kilometers from Sangolqu.Quito is 2,800 meters above sea level, therefore this configuration has many advantages. During the group stage, they capitalized on this advantage, winning two and drawing one of the three games played in Ecuador.

They needed to go to Chile and get something out of the game against Colo-Colo in the final round of group games, which was no easy feat. However, thanks to a heroic defensive performance and a lot of help from the woodwork, they hung on for a 0-0 draw, advancing to the last-16 for the first time.

Here they confronted a task that many thought would be insurmountable, bringing an end to this beautiful story. They were drawn against River Plate of Argentina, the defending Libertadores champions and one of the competition's favorites.

The Independiente players gave the best performance of their life in the home leg. Despite several good chances in the first half, they were unable to convert, but they were able to capitalize on their continuing dominance in the second half.

They've depended on a tight, narrow, and fearless defensive unit, as well as tenacious ball-winning in midfield and the directness, pace, and quality of players like Sornoza, who also has a nasty free-kick, to harm teams on the counter.

From the first minute to the last on the return leg in Buenos Aires, it was an Argentine attack. But, with some more luck, some terrible finishing, a fantastic goalkeeping performance, and another heroic rear-guard battle, they managed to exit River Plate's daunting El Monumental stadium with only one goal conceded, progressing 2-1 on aggregate to meet Pumas of Mexico in the quarter-finals.

Independiente is also one of the few clubs in Ecuador without significant debts. They are a brilliant example of how to run a football club on a continent where many clubs are on the verge of extinction and are being forced to sell their finest players far too young to service their massive interest payments.

To brighten up this fantastic story, Independiente has used their fantastic Libertadores campaign to not only delight its own fans, but to inspire an entire nation. All gate receipts from their games against River Plate, Pumas, and now Boca have been donated to victims of the tragic earthquake that struck the country on April 16, that year.