Thaindian News

Rio de Janeiro, June 26 (IANS) More than half-an-hour after his club sealed a berth in the Copa Libertadores final for the first time in its history, Corinthians coach Tite was still in a state of euphoria.

“I still can’t believe it,” Xinhua quoted Tite as telling the media after his team’s 2-1 aggregate victory over Brazilian rival Santos last Wednesday.

“What we have achieved might sink in when I read the media reports tomorrow. Now I’m going to celebrate with a gigantic caipirinha (Brazilian cocktail),” he said.

Tite’s jubilation was shared by the club’s estimated 29 million fans across Brazil, and represents what this tournament has come to mean for the Sao Paulo outfit.

In its 102-year history, Corinthians has won the Sao Paulo state championship for a record 26 times and won the Brazilian Serie A championship, which began in 1959, on five occasions. The club has also won the Copa do Brasil three times.

The glaring omission from the honour roll is South America’s most prized club tournament.

Having made the semi-finals on two previous occasions, the club known affectionately by its supporters as “O Timao” - The Big Team - will Wednesday play in its first Copa Libertadores final.

Its opponent is the legendary Argentine club Boca Juniors, aiming to win the tournament for a seventh time. The feat would equal the record held by Argentinian rival Independiente.

Wednesday’s first leg at the Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires will be followed seven days later by the return match at Corinthians’ Pacaembu stadium in Sao Paulo.