Four days after the São Paulo Junior Football Cup won for the second time, Palmeiras fans celebrated a title again, this time in the professional league. This Saturday (28), Verdão beat Flamengo 4-3, in a great game played at Mané Garrincha, in Brasília, taking the Brazilian Super Cup for the first time.
It was Abel Ferreira’s seventh achievement at the head of Palmeiras, equaling him with Ventura Cambon as the third coach with the most titles at the club. The Portuguese had already led the Alviverde team to the Brazilian Championship (2022), Libertadores (2020 and 2021), Copa do Brasil (2020), Recopa Sul-Americana (2022) and Campeonato Paulista (2022) cups. He ended the game ejected after kicking a microphone.
The victory tasted like a rematch for the Paulistas, who had lost the 2021 Super Cup precisely to Rubro-Negro, in this same stadium. Cariocas follow as the biggest winners of the tournament, with two titles (2020 and 2021).
Tributes to Pele
The ceremony that preceded the match paid homage to Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as Pelé, who passed away a month ago. Kely and Flávia Nascimento, daughters of the King of Football, entered the field accompanied by the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), Ednaldo Rodrigues, bringing the cups of the three World Cups won by the Athlete of the Century (1958, 1962 and 1970).
Players from both teams lined up for the national anthem wearing jerseys with the number 10 on the back. Finally, a large flag with Pelé’s face was raised in one of the stadium’s stands.
Turnaround in stoppage time
The first 20 minutes were more aggressive for Palmeiras, scoring hard (sometimes with a foul) and making it difficult for Flamengo to leave. At 19, goalkeeper Santos was pressured by Endrick in the area and ended up stopped. The ball was also left with striker Rony, who tried with a header, with an empty goal, but the conclusion was weak and defender Léo Pereira removed the danger.
If Santos messed up and Verdão didn’t take advantage, Rubro-Negro was more efficient. At 22 minutes, Zé Rafael held the ball too much and ended up disarmed by Giorgian de Arrascaeta. The Uruguayan midfielder invaded the area on the left and was brought down by the midfielder. In the collection, striker Gabriel hit the opposite corner to goalkeeper Weverton and opened the scoring.
Palmeiras did not take long to respond. In the 33rd minute, Zé Rafael advanced on the left and found Endrick in the area, between two markers, but the attacker hit weakly, in the middle of the goal, for Santos’ defense. Four minutes later, striker Dudu received it from the left, cut into the area and kicked. The ball stopped at the foot of defender David Luiz and left with midfielder Raphael Veiga, who finished in the corner, tying the match.
The team from São Paulo continued to improve, forcing Santos to make two saves, in submissions by Dudu and winger Joaquín Piquerez, both in moves initiated by the left. Alviverde’s superiority culminated in the comeback in the 48th minute, in a great goal by Gabriel Menino. The defensive midfielder received Piquerez in the middle and had time to spin and drop the bomb, at the right angle, with no chance for the red-black goalkeeper.
Ceremony that preceded the match paid homage to Pelé – Cesar Greco/Palmeiras
attack against attack
Flamengo came back better from the break, finally getting space to work the ball. In the fourth minute, Gabriel crossed from the right and striker Pedro headed in the small area, for Weverton’s good defense. The rebound went to Arrascaeta, who escaped Gabriel Menino and hit hard, again stopping at the Verdão goalkeeper. In the next minute, however, midfielder Everton Ribeiro dominated in the middle and gave a beautiful low assist to Gabriel, who received it between the defenders and played over Weverton to even the score.
Palmeiras’ reaction was almost immediate. At ten minutes, Endrick received it in the area and tried the hat on Everton Ribeiro, who touched the ball with his arm. The penalty was called and Raphael Veiga didn’t waste it. The alviverde advantage, however, lasted only five minutes. In a play worked on the left side, lateral Ayrton Lucas crossed low and Pedro, with his heel, dodged with category, scoring a great goal.
The duel continued lively at Mané Garrincha. In the 22nd minute, Dudu escaped marking on the left and crossed. Raphael Veiga tried to deflect in the small area, but it was Rony who managed to finish on top of Santos. Midfielder Thiago Maia took the ball back, Flamengo went on the counterattack and Pedro had the chance to finish in the area, disarmed at the right time by Marcos Rocha.
At 28 minutes, Raphael Veiga entered the area on the left and crossed low. The ball deflected off Léo Pereira on the way and was left with Gabriel Menino. The midfielder, free, kicked awkwardly, but it went into the net, without Santos showing any reaction. Flamengo took the lead, but ran into Palmeiras’ marking. In the 54th minute, in the last red-black opportunity, Everton Ribeiro took a corner kick from the left, midfielder Arturo Vidal scored and Thiago Maia, with a header, almost in the small area, sent it to the right of Weverton’s goal.
