Brazil: Corinthians Target Veron

Newly-promoted Corinthians' continued search for recognised name signings has led them to Estudiantes and two-time Italian league winner Juan Sebastian Veron, whom they are keen to bring on board for the 2009 Brazilian Championship.

Veron, 33, is out of contract in June of next year and his agent Miguel Pires has told the Brazilian press that he is set to meet with Corinthians president Andres Sanches next week to discuss the possibility of the midfielder joining the Sao Paulo club.

"A representative of the Corinthians president phoned me and we arranged a meeting for next week," he told Globo Esporte.

"Verón has a contract with Estudiantes until June, as he wants to play in the Copa Libertadores. Corinthians understand the situation and are still keen for us to meet."

Corinthians have been linked with a number of high-profile players since sealing their promotion, including a proposed big-money deal for the currently out of contract Ronaldo, and are desperate to secure a big name ahead of their top flight return.

Copa Sudamericana: Nilmar Fires Internacional To Copa Glory

Internacional secured their first ever Copa Sudamericana triumph on Wednesday as an extra time strike from Nilmar gave them a 2-1 aggregate victory over Estudiantes of Argentina.

Estudiantes travelled to Porto Alegre a goal down from the first leg, and showed plenty of attacking intent from the off as they looked to find a way back into the tie.

Despite their intentions, Leonardo Astrada's side had to wait until twenty minutes into the second half before they found the back of the net. Experienced defender Agustin Alayes pulled free from his marker to volley home at the far post and level the aggregate score.

Internacional had Agenor sent off in the final minutes of normal time, seemingly handing the advantage to Estudiantes as the match drifted into extra time.

However, the Argentine side were unable to take full advantage of their extra man, as it was Internacional who dominated the additional half hour in front of their home fans.

The winner came just six minutes from time as Nilmar reacted quickest following a goal mouth scramble to prod the ball home and send the supporters into raptures as Internacional grabbed their first major title since their Copa Liberatores victory in 2006.

Internacional Edge Estudiantes In Sudamericana Final First Leg [Goal Video]

Brazilian side Internacional took a large step towards their first ever Copa Sudamericana triumph with a 1-0 victory away to Estudiantes in the first leg of the final on Wednesday night.

Estudiantes were defending a forty-plus game unbeaten run at home going into the fixture, but despite going down to the ten men early in the second half due to the dismissal of Pablo Guinazu, it was Internacional who looked the more threatening side throughout.

Alex and Andres D'Alessandro offered the away side a creative spark in midfield, providing the lone striker Nilmar with plenty of quality service, especially during the opening period. It was from a D'Alessandro pass that Nilmar won the penalty from which Internacional scored their winner - the in-form striker brought down by Leandro Desabato inside the area.

Alex showed a cool head to dispatch the penalty at the second attempt after Paraguayan referee Carlos Amarilla ruled out his original take, and Internacional were then rarely troubled as they held onto their single goal advantage going into next week's decisive home leg.

Copa Sudamericana: Internacional and Estudiantes Set For Final Showdown [Goals Video]

Internacional and Estudiantes will dispute the seventh Copa Sudamericana final after disposing of Chivas Guadalajara and Argentinos Juniors in their respective semi-final second legs in midweek.

Internacional carried a 2-0 victory into the home leg of their tie with Mexican side Chivas and were able to wrap up the contest within the first 45 minutes as Andres D'Alessandro struck twice from dead ball situations and Nilmar added a third just before the break. Nilmar scored again with a neat finish twenty minutes into the second half, giving the Brazilians an impressive 4-0 victory on the night.

Estudiantes and Argentinos Juniors had played out a fairly tepid 1-1 draw in the first leg of their semi-final clash, and Thursday's second leg followed a similar pattern.

With both sides struggling to create chances in open play, set-pieces provided the primary goal threat, and it was from a Leandro Benitez corner that Estudiantes got their winner. 38 year old Jose Luis Calderon - in his third spell at the club - rose high to head home and book himself a place in his second successive Sudamericana final, having been part of the Arsenal side that were victorious in last season's competition.

Copa Sudamericana: Internacional beat Chivas; All Square in Argentina [Goals Video]

Internacional took a massive step towards reaching their first ever Copa Sudamericana final with a 2-0 victory away to Mexican side Chivas Guadalajara on Wednesday.

Chivas wasted a number of good chances - Omar Arellano guilty of the worst miss midway through the first half - and were made to pay, as excellent strikes in the last twenty minutes from Nilmar and Alex secured Internacional a healthy advantage going into the second leg next Wednesday.



Argentinos Juniors and Estudiantes played out a 1-1 draw in the second semi-final on Thursday, leaving their tie wide open ahead of the return leg next week.

Agustín Alayes gave Estudiantes a first half lead when he headed home Leandro Benitez's corner in the 26th minute, but the home side were quick to react following the half-time interval as Juan Mercier found the back of the net to level the score on the night.