Corinthians – Copa do Brasil champions 2009

André Santos (right) hits a cracker for Corinthians

Corinthians booked their place in next year’s Libertadores after beating Internacional with an aggregate score of 4-2 to win the Copa do Brasil.

2-0 up from the first leg in São Paulo, Corinthians silenced a packed estádio Beira-Rio with first-half goals from Jorge Henrique, and a stunner from Brazil leftback, André Santos.

Ronaldo, who even the Corinthians team doctors have admitted has put more weight on in recent months, had a shocker.

Substitute Alecsandro managed a couple of consolation goals midway through the second-period but it was too little too late.

Naturally, in a game of such tension, there was the mass handbagging moment led by Inter’s moronic D’Alessandro who chased Corinthian’s captain, William, halfway round the pitch. The Argentine was sent off. Five minutes later, Corinthian’s Elias for a second yellow. Both coaches were also banished from the dug outs.

Inter have the most talented team in Brazil and are capable of some fantastic football. But for the most part in the game in Porto Alegre, it seemed like men against boys as Corinthians simply outmuscled the somewhat lightweight Inter.

Mano Meneze’s team have now won the Brasileiro Série B, the Campeonato Paulista and now the Copa do Brasil in the space of just over six months. But with their place in the Libertadores already assured, the question now is whether they will be motivated enough to go on and win the Campeonato Brasileiro – a feat Corinthians are more than capable of accomplishing.   

Highlights here

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