RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Dutch striker Memphis Depay scored a second-half winner as Corinthians clinched its fourth Copa do Brasil title on Sunday with a 2-1 away victory over Vasco da Gama.
Yuri Alberto put the visitors ahead in the 18th minute of the final's second leg by controlling Matheuzinho's long diagonal pass and toe-poking a close-range effort into the far corner.
Vasco equalized on the stroke of halftime, timing his run to perfection to head home at the far post after Andres Gomez's cross.
Depay broke the deadlock just after the hour, sliding in from point blank range following Alberto's cross on the counterattack.
The result at Rio's Maracana Stadium followed a goalless draw in Wednesday's first leg in Sao Paulo.
"It was a tough game and Vasco made it very difficult for us," Depay said after the match. "We had to work hard to hold them off. But Corinthians is a big club and we showed that tonight.
"I came to Corinthians a year ago when nobody believed in us but this team has proven what it's capable of. I'm very proud of the players and the way they came through," the former Manchester United and Barcelona player added.
The result guaranteed Corinthians a place in the group stage of next year's Copa Libertadores, South America's premier club competition. ■
