Internacional wins 2011 Recopa America

In the return leg of the Recopa America, Internacional hosted Independiente of Argentina on Wednesday and won 3-1 for an aggregate score of 4-3. The competition brings together the winner of the 2010 Libertadores Cup (Internacional) and the winner of the 2010 South American Championship (Independiente). Internacional took an early lead in the 19th minute when Leandro Damiao displayed his individual talent by blowing by his defender, attacking the goal and firing an angled ball across the defense to land the ball into the far left side of the goal and past a helpless Independiente keeper, Navarro. Damiao scored again in the 25th minute when he capitalized on a long ball from his own goalie, Muriel, waited for the ball to bounce and continued to pound the ball with all his might into the upper right corner of the goal. The goal caused the Internacional fans to go into a craze as the team early on guaranteed its tournament title. Returning to the second half, Independiente scored its only goal of the match in the 48th minute. Receiving an excellent pass Ferreyra, Maxi Velazquez quickly sent the ball along the top of the grass between the legs of keeper Muriel. Internacional scored once more to guarantee the tournament win in the 82nd minute when Kleber sealed the deal, converting a penalty kick by slamming the ball past Navarro and into the upper left corner of Independiente. With an aggregate score of 4-3, Internacional collects its second Recopa America title, winning previously in 2007 against Mexico's Pachuca with an aggregate score of 4-0.