The 2017 Copa Sudamericana first stage was played from 28 February to 1 June 2017.[1] A total of 44 teams competed in the first stage to decide the 22 of the 32 places in the second stage of the 2017 Copa Sudamericana.[2]
The draw for the first stage was held on 31 January 2017, 21:00 PYST (UTC−3), at the CONMEBOL Convention Centre in Luque, Paraguay.[3] For the first stage, the teams were divided into two pots according to their geographical zones:
Pot A (South Zone): 22 teams from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay
Pot B (North Zone): 22 teams from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela
The 44 teams were drawn into 22 ties (G1–G22) between a team from Pot A and a team from Pot B, with the teams from Pot B hosting the second leg in odd-numbered ties, and the teams from Pot A hosting the second leg in even-numbered ties. This distribution ensured that teams from the same association could not be drawn into the same tie.
In the first stage, each tie was played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. If tied on aggregate, the away goals rule would be used. If still tied, extra time would not be played, and the penalty shoot-out would be used to determine the winner (Regulations Article 6.1).[2]
The 22 winners of the first stage advanced to the second stage to join the 10 teams transferred from the Copa Libertadores (two best teams eliminated in the third stage of qualifying and eight third-placed teams in the group stage).
Matches[]
The first legs were played on 28 February, 1–2 March, and 4–6 April, and the second legs were played on 9–11 May, 30–31 May and 1 June 2017.[4][5]
Fluminense won 2–1 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
Notes[]
^The Defensa y Justicia v São Paulo match was originally scheduled on 6 April 2017, 21:45 local time, but was re-scheduled to 5 April 2017, 19:15 local time, due to a general strike decreed in Argentina.[6]