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São Paulo may not have played their best game this season against Flamengo, last Wednesday, in the quarterfinals of the Brazilian Cup. Far from there. But he showed something important in the fight for the titles: a shell to face adversity.
The tough eliminations for Mirassol, in Paulistão, and Lanús, in the Copa Sudamericana, may have served as a lesson for a team that suffered oscillations in 2020 and had at least three important changes in the line-ups, in addition to not having passed the stage. groups in the Libertadores.
Against Flamengo, São Paulo was caught on several occasions. In the first half, the team suffered from the pressure on the opponent’s ball exit and made passing errors that the end almost was the goal.
Luciano, from São Paulo, receives the appointment of three Flamengo players – Photo: André Durão
But even so, the team was unfazed and continued with their game planning. In the bugs, it was even possible to see players charging each other, something that hasn’t been common in Tricolor lately.
São Paulo held out in the early stages with a good performance from Tiago Volpi. For the second part, something had to be changed, and it was at this moment that the skin of the players appeared.
After suffering almost 45 minutes and never finishing on goal, São Paulo came back differently in the final stage and was surgical in attack. With just one minute, Brenner received a great pass from Gabriel Sara and scored the goal off Diego Alves.
But an old problem quickly arose: that of conceding goals immediately after scoring. Gabigol received inside the area and defeated Volpi with a placed shot.
Rogério Ceni raises Brenner, from São Paulo – Photo: André Durão
São Paulo, then, could destabilize and end everything. But the players remained calm and did not despair at the end of the advantage. Flamengo after that was well marked and did not generate great opportunities.
The tactical delivery of the team led by Fernando Diniz was awarded at 42 minutes of the second half. The draw was already a good result in the circumstances of playing away from home, but São Paulo wanted more and continued to pressure Flamengo in the attack field.
In one of those high notes, Hugo, goalkeeper of the Rio team that entered the place of the injured Diego Alves, tried to leave playing and Brenner managed to disarm to score the winning goal.
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Brenner celebrates goal with São Paulo – Photo: Miguel Schincariol / saopaulofc.net
A relief goal for a São Paulo that lives surrounded by pressure. A goal that shows that São Paulo can fight for the title of the Brazilian Cup and that, once again, they beat Flamengo at Maracanã, it had already been that way in the 4-1 loss to Brasileirão.
However, when it comes to São Paulo, there is little care and Fernando Diniz seems to have understood it. At the end of the game, Luciano went to celebrate the victory with more enthusiasm, and the coach had to stop him:
“It is not celebrated, it is not over yet,” said the technician, according to the Globo broadcast.
The return match (and decisive) will take place next Wednesday, at 9.30 pm, in Morumbi. Tricolor plays for the tie to advance to the semifinal. Missing by goal, penalties. By two, eliminated.
It will be another litmus test for São Paulo to show that the bark created will be able to enter once and for all as a candidate for the trophy that the club never won.
