RIO DE JANEIRO: Palmeiras beat Santos 1-0 with a goal nine minutes into stoppage time in the all-Brazilian final of the Copa Libertadores to win the South American club crown for the second time in their history.

They thus complete the line-up for the FIFA Club World Cup in Qatar next month.

A stormy deadlock was ended when substitute Breno Lopes headed home from Roni’s assist to end Santos’ dream of becoming the most successful Brazilian club in the competition. They remain stuck on three along with Gremio and Sao Paulo.

Santos were marginally better in an edgy first half but without creating serious danger. The second half saw both sides improve with bad misses by Santos’ Lucas Verissimo and Kaio Jorge.

The referee signalled eight minutes of stoppage time, sent off Santos coach Cuca for holding on to the ball and the additional time saw Breno grab the decisive goal.

Palmeiras claim to have been FIFA’s first world club champions from a tournament apparently sanctioned by the world governing body in Rio de Janeiro in 1951.

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