Corinthians drew goalless with Ituano, but won on penalties 5-4 on Friday night (17/01), in Santo André, and advanced to the quarter-finals of the Copinha. Kauê was the highlight, saving three penalties.
Now, Timão faces Vasco, who eliminated Flamengo-SP 5-3. The duel will be on Sunday (19/01), at a time and place to be defined by the São Paulo Football Federation.
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Corinthians x Ituano: how the game was
The match started with Ituano creating more opportunities. At five, Léo Izidoro received the ball in the area, cleared the marking with great skill and released the left-footed player, but the Corinthians goalkeeper palmed it away. Corinthians responded within 15 minutes. Denner received a beautiful backheel pass from Nicollas, invaded the area, but finished over the mark.
The game became more truncated and the one who was in danger again was Galo de Itu. At 22, Jonathan got rid of the marking and, without an angle, filled his foot. The ball exploded onto the Corinthian crossbar. The match was back and forth and Timãozinho almost scored at 26. Gui Negão won the dispute with the score in midfield and headed towards the goal with freedom. However, he got lost and kicked out.
Corinthians began to have more control of the game and had the best chance in the 33rd minute. Nicollas made a beautiful individual play on the left, invaded the area and hit the ball looking for the corner, but the ball exploded onto Ituano’s post. The last two chances of the first half were from Ituano. To begin with, at 35, JP received a great pass from Lucas Dias in the area and crossed the ball. Cauê was almost betrayed when he left the goal, but he recovered and sent the ball out for a corner.
A minute later, Vini received the ball in the area, in front of the goal, and hit it low first time. In pure reflex, Kauê palmed and avoided the goal of the team from the interior of São Paulo.
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The second half started more truncated, without many chances to score. The first shot came from Ituano, at 12. Nicolas took a free kick, but played far from the goal. Galo de Itu had another chance at 18. Lucas Dias found Vini in the area, who spun beautifully and found the goal. He finished low and Kauê saved it with his foot.
Corinthians only responded after 26 minutes. Dieguinho risked a shot from the right wing and almost surprised Pedro, who recovered and threw it for a corner. The match became more truncated, with both teams not wanting to take too many risks in the final stretch of the game. Corinthians took another risk at 43. Luiz Fernando hit, the ball deflected off the defense and went out.
Corinthians x Ituano: penalties
With everything tied, the duel went to penalties. With the first kick, Caipira hit the corner low and scored Corinthians’ first. Matheus Rocha scored for Ituano and equalized. On the second kick, Luiz Eduardo moved Pedro and scored Timão’s second. Stefanello went to charge Ituano and also scored, displacing Kauê.
On the third kick, Igor Dourado, from Corinthians, hit the right corner and Pedro palmed it away. On Ituano’s penalty, Jonathan hit low, in the corner, and put Galo de Itu in front. For the fourth charge, Fernando filled his foot and equalized. Nathan hit for Ituano and Kauê saved in the left corner.
On the fifth kick, Dener hit the left corner, Pedro touched the ball, but it went in, putting Timão in front. Afterwards, Lucas hit the middle of the goal, safely, to put the penalties in alternation.
The first alternating shot had a mistake from Corinthians, when Rodrigão hit the post. Kauan followed up and could have classified Ituano, but he hit the post after a deflection from Kauê. Soon after, Araújo put Alvinegro ahead. Matheuzinho hit and Kauê saved to give Corinthians the spot.
Corinthians x Ituano: lineups
Corinthians lineup: Kauê, Gabriel Caipira, Fernando, Garcez and Denner; Bahia (Luiz Fernando, at 21’/2ºQ), Victor Dourado and Thomas (Caraguá, at 21’2ºQ); Dieguinho (Luiz Eduardo, at 38’/2nd Q), Nicollas (Rodrigão, at 21’/2nd Q) and Gui Negão (Araújo, at 32’/2nd Q). Technical: Orlando Ribeiro.
Ituano lineup: Pedro, Lucas Dias, Matheus Rocha, Nathan and Léo Izidoro; Kauan, Victor Reis (Marcos Henrique, at 39’/2nd Q) and Nicolas (Dudu, at 39’/2nd Q); JP (Stefanello, at 14’/2nd Q), Vini (Matheuzinho, at 25’/2nd Q) and Jonathan. Technical: Boy Elias.
Yellow cards: Fernando, Caraguá (Corinthians)
