Brazil’s Internacional posted a 3-2 victory over Guadalajara Wednesday night, winning their two-legged tie 5-3 to finish their second Copa Libertadores title. Inter has now won the tournament twice in five years.
Copa Libertadores: Internacional Ends Brazil’s Drought, Defeats Chivas In Final
Inter got goals from Rafael Sobis, Leandro, and Giuliano, the first coming after Chivas had evened the tie at two with an acrobatic goal from Marco Fabían minutes before halftime.
Chivas got a consolation goal from Patricio Araujo in second half stoppage time, down to ten men after Omar Arellano received a 85th minute red card.
Inter’s victory ends three years of finals failure for Brazil, who had seen sides make the last round each year only to fail in the despite having the second leg at home. Fabían’s early goal sparked memories of those failures, but Inter asserted themselves throughout the second half, with substitute Giuliano’s sixth goal of the tournament putting the match out-of-reach.
Giuliano, who captained Brazil at last year’s under-20 world championships, now becomes Internacional’s next sought-after prospect, with fellow midfielder Sandro completing his move to Tottenham Hotspur after the match.
Guadalajara became the second Mexican team to make it to the final of the South American club championship, Cruz Azul (in 2001) also losing in the final.
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