Corinthians outplay Boca Juniors

Beat Boca Juniors 2-0 with two goals by Emerson

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Corinthians beat Boca Juniors 2-0 last night with two goals scored by Emerson to claim their first Libertadores Cup title in their history.

SÃO PAULO — Corinthians won their first Libertadores Cup yesterday when they beat Boca Juniors 2-0 in the second leg of the final at the Pacaembú stadium in São Paulo.

Emerson scored both goals in the second half for the Brazilian team, who finished unbeaten in the championship.

In the first leg at La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, they drew 1-1 with a late goal scored by Romarinho for the visitors.

The highlight of the first half yesterday was undoubtedly Agustín Orión’s substitution. The Boca Juniors’ goalkeeper suffered an injury on his left knee and was replaced by Uruguayan Sebastián Sosa in the 32nd. It was the second straight Libertadores Cup final for Sosa, as he played it last year’s with Peñarol.

The hosts dominated during the first 45 minutes, but did not take advantage of their few opportunities. Midfielder Alex had two chances to score in the 29th and 39th, but the first one went wide and the other was easily blocked by Sosa.

In the second half, Corinthians took the lead in the 53rd, when Emerson found the ball inside the area after a corner and sent it home.

Matías Caruzzo almost equalized the game for Boca with a header in the 71st, but goalkeeper Cassio Ramos denied it.

A minute later, experienced defender Rolando Schiavi made a terrible mistake and gave the ball to Emerson, who run into Boca’s box and sealed the 2-0 victory.

Corinthians will play in the Club World Cup for the second time in their history. They won its first edition in 2000.

Boca missed the chance to claim their seventh Libertadores Cup title and tie fellow Argentine club Independiente as the most successful team in the history of the competition.

Both teams were at full strength for yesterday’s decider. Boca did not play at the weekend because the Argentine Clausura Tournament is over, while Corinthians’s match against Botafogo was postponed to allow the team to prepare.

Falcioni’s team was: Agustín Orión; Franco Sosa, Rolando Schiavi, Matías Caruzzo, Clemente Rodríguez; Pablo Ledesma, Leandro Somoza, Walter Erviti; Juan Román Riquelme; Pablo Mouche and Santiago Silva.

Corinthians played with: Cassio Ramos; Alessandro, Chicão, Leandro Castán, Fabio Santos; Ralf, Paulinho, Danilo, Alex; Jorge Henrique and Emerson.