“It’s not modern or ancient football, it’s Uruguayan football,” Penarol Coach Diego Aguirre told La Republica this week as his side stand on the verge of the club’s first Libertadores title since 1987 – when Aguirre himself donned the famous gold and black stripes of Los Aurinegros. It was a statement that perfectly summarised the club’s Libertadores campaign thus far, and undoubtedly one that referred to the answer most frequently cited whenever an explanation is demanded for Uruguayan football’s long history of over-achievement. La Garra Charrua (the Charruan claw) is a term derived from the indigenous Charrua people of the land that later became Uruguay, and is used to characterise Uruguayans’ unrelenting desire to prosper in the face of defeat. Aguirre’s side haven’t waltzed their way to a final with Brazilian club Santos by outscoring opponents with expansive, free-flowing possession-based football, but by displaying the type of virtues exhibited by the Charrua in the face of colonial invasion – grit, determination, and an outright refusal to lie down and be beaten.

“We may not play the most beautiful football,” admitted forward Juan Manuel Olivera after Penarol safely navigated their way past Velez Sarsfield in Argentina to book a place in the final, “but we have lots of heart, and we never give up.” That heart has been most evident in Penarol’s performances away from home since they emerged from a group stage that saw them comfortably beaten 3-0 in Avellaneda by Independiente and hammered 5-0 by LDU Quito in Ecuador; two heavy defeats that leave them having conceded more goals than they’ve scored en route to the final. In their three away games since, Aguirre tightened things up significantly. His side shocked reigning champions Internacional with a 2-1 victory in Porto Alegre at the round of 16 by sitting deep, staying compact, and hitting the Brazilians on the break. The same tactic was deployed to secure their passage to the semis, holding on to a first leg lead over Universidad Catolica in Santiago, though to completely discount them as a side devoid of any panache would be to do Aguirre’s men a disservice; Argentinian playmaker Alejandro Martinuccio has been one of the tournament’s outstanding performers, relishing his role of protagonist in his side’s swift counter-attacks, as has striker Olivera, who has helped himself to five goals in the tournament.

Penarol will also take confidence from a rich history. They were the first, and second, winners of what has become South America’s flagship club competition, bagging back-to-back Libertadores titles in 1960 and 1961 before going on to be crowned World champions by beating Eusebio’s Benfica. Another title followed in ’66, as did a second world title, this time overcoming the mighty Real Madrid. Fourth and fifth Libertadores Cups arrived in ‘82 and ’87 either side of a third Intercontinental Cup victory over Tony Barton’s Aston Villa, with Aguirre not only a member of the ’87 winning squad, but the man who grabbed the winner against America de Cali. That may have been 24 years ago, but Aguirre hasn’t forgotten. “The club has been a sleeping giant but now it’s roused itself,” he told FIFA last month. “I don’t know how far we can go, but history demands that we aim as high as we can.” And nor will he let his players forget it: “I’m a firm believer in motivation, and I always draw on history, the jersey and the difficulties other players who have worn it have had to overcome.”

Officially established in 1891 as Central Uruguay Railway Cricket Club by English railway workers of the Central Uruguay Railway company, Penarol are the oldest football club in Uruguay (though some argue the club was never truly born until a quarter of a century later when ex-CURCC members officially formed Club Atletico Penarol in 1915, making them the second eldest after fierce rivals Nacional), and they became the most successful club in Uruguayan football history when Aguirre returned in 2009 to steer them to their 37th title of the professional era.

But the increasing globalisation of the game has left one of South America’s biggest clubs trailing behind those in neighbouring Argentina and Brazil. With domestic football generating little interest outside of Uruguay itself, Penarol will earn around 1/15th of the revenue that opponents Santos will receive from television rights this year. That the coach described victory over Internacional as “historic” and “logic defying” showed just how much has changed since Los Aurinegros ruled over the continent. Aguirre’s men will undoubtedly go into the two-legged final as underdogs, but this Penarol side probably wouldn’t have it any other way.