Corinthians seal Copa Brasil triumph
Reuters - Thursday 02 July 2009, 04:40
RIO DE JANEIRO - Corinthians lifted their second trophy of the season when they won the Copa Brasil on Wednesday.
A 2-2 draw at Internacional in the second leg in Porto Alegre, in which two players were sent off and both coaches dismissed, earned Corinthians a 4-2 aggregate victory.
Inter's Argentine midfielder Andres D'Alessandro was shown a straight red card in the 78th minute for fighting. Corinthians, who won the first leg 2-0 in Sao Paulo two weeks ago, had midfielder Elias sent off for a second booking five minutes later.
Victory handed Corinthians, who won the regional Paulista championship earlier in the season, the first of five Brazilian berths in next year's Libertadores Cup.
"We achieved our main objective of the year," said Ronaldo, referring to the Libertadores Cup berth. The striker had a quiet game on Wednesday after scoring in the first leg.
"I think this team showed fighting spirit, strength, unity and above all tactical discipline. It was a great final. Pity about the provocation but that doesn't take the shine off our victory," he told reporters.
Striker Jorge Henrique out-jumped Inter's taller central defenders to head home Andre Santos's cross in the 20th minute to put Corinthians in front.
Andre Santos, who helped Brazil win the Confederations Cup in South Africa, increased their lead with a low shot from the left eight minutes later.
Substitute Alecsandro gave Inter a glimmer of hope with goals in the 71st and 75th minutes but it was too little too late.
It was Corinthians' third Copa Brasil win after success in 1995 and 2002.