In 2016 , Chapecoense made history when they reached the finals of the Copa Sudamericana , South America 's secondary club football tournament , after defeating San Lorenzo de Almagro using the away goals rule . They were awarded the title following a disastrous plane crash which killed the majority of their squad on the way to the final ( see below ) As Copa Sudamericana champions , Chapecoense qualified for the 2017 Copa Libertadores , their first appearance in that tournament . With a squad built up from loan players , free signings and promoted youth players , as well as two survivors of the crash , they won their first match in an away game at Zulia of Venezuela
a disastrous plane crash
LaMia Flight 2933
Associação Chapecoense de Futebol