In the first official game played at the Pacaembu stadium since 2021, São Paulo defeated Corinthians 3-2 and became Copinha champions. After a marathon of nine matches in 21 days, the team left 127 other teams behind and lifted the junior tournament cup for the fifth time.
The game had goals from Denner and Gui Negão, for Corinthians, and Andrade and Paulinho, who scored two, for São Paulo.
São Paulo, which had the support of its only fans, started the match with more intensity, controlling the ball better and putting pressure on the opponent, but wasting opportunities. The team was missing the championship’s top scorer, Ryan Francisco, who was suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards, but soon proved that his absence would not be a problem.
Halfway through the first half, however, the game slowed down and Corinthians began to grow on the field. At 33, he took the lead with a long ball from Garcez that found Denner inside the area. The 16-year-old midfielder dodged defender Lucas Loss and shot hard with his right to score his third goal of the competition.
Shortly after, in the 43rd minute, São Paulo’s defense failed on an aerial ball, which bounced off Nicollas and fell to Gui Negão. With a touch over goalkeeper João Pedro’s shoulder, the attacker increased Corinthians’ advantage.
Afterwards, however, São Paulo reduced the difference with a goal from Paulinho, from a well-aimed corner kick by Ferreira, in the 45th minute of the first half.
In the second half, São Paulo returned more intense and creative, after replacing Samuel, who had entered at the beginning of the game in place of the injured Hugo, for Pedro Ferreira. In the 16th minute, in another corner, Andrade received it alone at the second post and scored with a header to tie the match.
The turning point came soon after, in the 20th minute, when a lift by Maik again found Paulinho alone in the area, for another aerial goal for São Paulo.
After the match, in an interview with Sportv, Gabriel Caipira, from Corinthians, regretted what he called the lack of the last pass and praised the team, made up of very young players. He also thanked the fans for their support, who were unable to attend because it was a classic, in accordance with state rules.
Andrade, one of the scorers of São Paulo’s goals, also spoke to Sportv. “The game only ends at the final whistle, and we talk a lot about humility. We know we have the ability to turn the game around, it was like that in the Brazilian Cup and today.
São Paulo left Group 11 undefeated, with three victories. In the second phase, they beat América-RN 4-0, and in the third, they beat Juventude 1-0. In the round of 16, they beat Fluminense only on penalties, after a goalless draw. They scored 3-1 against Cruzeiro in the quarterfinals, and beat Criciúma 2-1 in the semis.
Corinthians finished the group stage in second place in Group 27, with two wins and one defeat, against Santo André. In the second phase, they eliminated Falcon, 1-0, and in the third, Vila Nova, with a 4-1 victory. They had to go to penalties against Ituano in the round of 16, and then beat Vasco 1-0 in the quarters and Grêmio 1-0 to reach the final, in search of their second title and their 12th Copinha title.
