The Atletico Goianensepenultimate in the standings in the Brazilian League and who changed his coach this week, won this Thursday 3-1 at Sao Paulo in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana semifinals and put himself in a comfortable position to reach the final of the tournament.
Goianiense prevailed with goals from Jorginho, Shaylon and Leo Pereira and thanks to an expulsion suffered by the Paulistas in the first half. Next Thursday they only need a draw in the second leg to guarantee a classification without precedent in their history.
If he advances, he would have to face the winner of the duel between Independiente del Valle and Melgar. The Ecuadorians are ahead after beating the Peruvians 3-0 on Wednesday.
Sao Paulo, which is trying to regain the leading role it has lost in the Brazilian League in the South American, started much better, went on the attack and had the first dangerous play with a shot by Reinaldo that went wide after seven minutes.
Despite the dominance of the São Paulo players, Goianiense, who is facing a serious crisis and this week fired his coach for poor results, surprised in the 11th minute with a counterattack goal. The era of coach Eduardo Baptista could not have started better.
The goal play for his new team was started by Dudu, who advanced from the right, and who lifted the ball into the area, where Jorginho appeared to finish off and open the scoring.
Exporter Rogerio Ceni’s team had difficulty reacting, but maintained dominance and equalized in the 23rd minute after Luciano, with a header, put a ball lifted by Rodrigo Néstor into the goal. The goal confirmed Luciano as the second in the ranking of scorers in the South American, with 5 goals.
Dudu (Goianiense) disputes a ball with Calleri
Sao Paulo continued to press and seemed ready to come back but midfielder Igor Gomes was sent off after 39 minutes after receiving a second yellow card for a violent tackle. With one man less on the pitch, the São Paulo team reduced the pressure in the final minutes as they organized themselves.
Not wanting to lose time, a minute before the end of the first half, Rogerio Ceni recomposed his defense with the entry of Welinton in the place of Reinaldo and Patrick in that of the Venezuelan Nahuel Ferraresi.
With the numerical advantage, Goianiense went on the attack for the second half and had several chances in the first ten minutes until Shaylon, who replaced Baralhas after the break, put the hosts ahead. Shaylon, from the ground, only had to push a ball that goalkeeper Jandrei and defender Diego Costa let pass.
With the numerical disadvantage and on the scoreboard, Rogerio Ceni was again forced to change his team and sent Uruguayan midfielder Gabriel Neves and striker Marcos Guilherme to the field.
The changes did not work and Goianiense not only maintained dominance but extended the score in the 78th minute with a great goal from Leo Pereira, who entered a few minutes before and starred alone in a counterattack from the left in which he left on the way to Diego Costa and beat Jandrei.
The São Paulo fans, who began the game by booing Igor Gomes for his irregularity, ended it with strong protests against goalkeeper Jandrei, whom they blamed for the defeat.
DATA SHEET
3 – Athletico Goianiense: Renan; Dudu (m.46, Hayner), Wánderson, Klaus, Jefferson (m.66, Arthur Henrique); Gabriel Baralhas (m.46, Shaylon), Marlon Freitas, Edson Fernando (m.85, Rhaldney), Jorginho; Wellington Rato (m.72, Leo Pereira) and Churín
Coach: Eduardo Baptista
1 – Sao Paulo: Jandrei; Diego Costa, Nahuel Ferraresi (m.45, Patryck), Leo, Igor Vinicius; Pablo Maia (m.60, Gabriel Neves), Igor Gomes, Rodrigo Nestor (m.79, Alisson), Reinaldo (m.45, Welington); Luciano (m.60, Marcos Guilherme) and Jonathan Calleri
Coach: Rogerio Ceni
Goals: 1-0, Jorginho (m. 11); 1-1, Luciano (d. 23); 2-1, Shaylon (d. 56); 3-1, Leo Pereira (d. 78)
Referee: the Venezuelan Jesús Valenzuela expelled Igor Gomes and admonished Wanderson, Dudu, Edson Fernando, Neves and Igor Vinicius
Incidents: first leg of the semifinals of the South American Cup played at the Serra Dourada stadium in the Brazilian city of Goiania before 33,047 spectators
read also
