Pedro Raul scored the decisive goal; striker hasn’t scored since April 9, when the black and white team beat Nacional do Paraguay 4-0 in the South American Championship
The opened with victory. The alternative team entered with three midfielders and suffered without midfielders to create plays. The goal to open the scoring seemed to herald a bad start to the State Championship, but changes in and Pedro Raul’s disenchantment guaranteed Corinthians’ turnaround. The Argentine coach was unable to count on Garro, with a knee injury, and Igor Coronado, with a virus. Even with Carillo available, the preference was for a midfield with three midfielders. This caused damage in the first minutes, when the home team started with pressure.
After a cross from the left, John John received it alone inside the area and was able to open the score, but Donelli made a great save. Corinthians’ equalizer came in the second half when Juninho Capixaba failed to clear a cross, the full-back left the ball at the foot of Talles Magno. The Corinthians hit first time inside the small area and equalized. Corinthians’ goal cheered up the São Paulo team, but the atmosphere of excitement soon subsided and was replaced by truncated plays from both teams.
Again in a cross, Talles Magno found Pedro Raul inside the area. The attacker headed the ball for the turnaround. He seemed to be in an irregular condition, but Juninho Capixaba, poorly positioned, provided the condition. When the full-back was replaced, there were boos from the stands. The goal was Pedro Raul’s first since April 9, when Corinthians beat Nacional do Paraguay 4-0 in the Sudamericana. It had been nine months without an appointment. Red Bull Bragantino returns to the field on Sunday, against São Bernardo, in the second round, at 4pm. On the same day, but at 6:30 pm, Corinthians hosts Velo Clube.
*With information from Estadão Conteúdo
Published by Sarah Paula
