Brazilian club Corinthians are
champions of South America for
the first time after a 3-1
aggregate defeat of Argentina's
Boca Juniors in the final of the
Copa Libertadores.
After a 1-1 draw in last week's
first leg in Buenos Aires, two
goals from Brazil-born Qatar
striker Emerson gave coach Tite's
Corinthians a 2-0 second-leg win
in Sao Paulo.
Wednesday's historic win over
six-time champions Boca
ensured Corinthians' qualification
for December's FIFA Club World
Cup in Japan.
It also means South America's
premier club competition has
been won by a Brazilian team in
each of the last three years,
following on from Santos in
2011 and Internacional.
Are FIFA's world rankings fit for
purpose?
"I am very happy because we
know the history Boca Juniors
have in worldwide football and
in the Copa Libertadores,"
Emerson told Fox Sports.
"Our crowd represents 33 million
fans. Since this year's
Libertadores started, we have
dreamt of clinching the title. We
were all in need of this
achievement."
Corinthians' undefeated
campaign was powered by five
goals from the 33-year-old
Emerson, as well as four goals
from attacking midfielder Danilo
-- who won the title with Sau
Paulo in 2005.
On a disappointing day for Boca,
midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme
also announced Wednesday's
game would be his final
appearance for the club.
The 34-year-old began his career
with Boca before spending six
years in Spain with Barcelona
and most notably Villarreal.
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