Palmeiras won this Wednesday (2) the unprecedented title of the Recopa Sul-Americana. At Allianz Parque, in São Paulo, in front of 30,000 fans, Verdão beat Athletico-PR 2-0. In the first leg, at Arena da Baixada, in Curitiba, the teams drew 2-2.
THE RECOPA IS OURS! ?
THE CHAMPION OF AMERICA SHOWED HIS STRENGTH AGAIN AND WON ANOTHER CUP! IT’S THE #PIGGER! ?#AvantiPalestra pic.twitter.com/ZX3lrk5vWi— SE Palmeiras (@Palmeiras) March 3, 2022
It was the second time that Alviverde played in the tournament. Last year, the Paulistas took the runner-up. After beating Defensa y Justicia in the first game, 2-1, at the Norberto Tomaghello stadium, in Florencio Varela (Argentina), the Brazilians were defeated by the same score at Mané Garrincha, in Brasília. On penalties, the Argentines won 4-3.
At Palmeiras since November 2020, Abel Ferreira lifted the fourth trophy (in eight finals played) and became the fourth most champion coach at the club. He also led Verdão to the titles of the last two Libertadores (2020 and 2021) and the Copa do Brasil (2020). The Portuguese is tied with the Uruguayans Humberto Cabelli and Ventura Cambón and is behind only Vanderlei Luxemburgo (eight conquests), Oswaldo Brandão (seven) and Luiz Felipe Scolari (six).
Verdão still equaled rivals Santos and Corinthians, who had already won the Recopa once (2012 and 2013, respectively). São Paulo was champion twice (1993 and 1994) and is the Brazilian club with the most titles in the tournament, alongside Internacional (2007 and 2011) and Grêmio (1996 and 2018). Cruzeiro (1998), Atlético-MG (2014) and Flamengo (2020) have also won the competition previously.
The first half had a greater volume of play by Palmeiras, who finished almost four times more (11-3), but none of them in the direction of the goal, as well as Athletico. Verdão bet heavily on crosses from the left, but the red-black defense got the better of most of the disputes at the top. The Hurricane managed to reach the alviverde goal only in the final 15 minutes, but without great danger to goalkeeper Weverton.
Alviverde maintained the offensive posture in the final stage, this time swinging the nets. At five minutes, midfielder Zé Rafael took a free kick from the entrance of the area and sent the net. Goalkeeper Santos still touched the ball, without success, but avoided the second in the sequence, three minutes later, saving a bicycle from forward Rony, inside the area.
Athletico tried to launch the attack, although with difficulties to enter the Palmeiras area. In the 33rd minute, midfielder Marlos took a corner from the right, midfielder Erick headed in the middle of the goal, Weverton grabbed it, but let it slip and left-back Marcos Rocha pushed it away in the H hour. Hurricane gave space and Palmeiras took advantage. At 42, midfielder Eduard Atuesta stole the ball in the middle and crossed low for midfielder Danilo to finish in the corner and set the score. After the goal, Abel Ferreira was sent off after an argument between members of the technical committees.
THE CAST #PIGGER CONMEBOL RECOPA CHAMPION AND OWNER OF SOUTH AMERICA! ??⚪️#AvantiPalestra pic.twitter.com/l9Ycr7v3BT
— SE Palmeiras (@Palmeiras) March 3, 2022
The two teams return to the field on Sunday (6), at 16:00 (Brasília time), for the respective state championships. Palmeiras receives Guarani, again at Allianz, for the tenth round of Paulista. Athletico will go to the Olympic Regional Stadium, in Cascavel (PR), to face the home team, for the last round of the first phase of Paranaense.
