Palmeiras was superior to Porto at the debut of the new FIFA Club World Cup, but wasted good chances and did not leave 0-0 on Sunday (15) at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey (USA). Abel Ferreira’s team had a tactical, technical and physical performance superior to the Portuguese opponent, but stopped in large defenses of goalkeeper Claudio Ramos – who is the reserve of the team – and sinned in the finalization. With the result, all teams in Group A-Palmeiras, Porto, Al-Ahly and Inter Miami-add only one point and no goal scored after the first round. Verdon returns to the field on Thursday (19), at 13h (Brasília), against Al-Ahly, again at Metlife Stadium. On the same day, Porto faces Inter Miami, at 16h, in Atlanta.
Faced with 46,000 fans, most of Palmeirense, Verdon began the match at a rapid pace and pressing the ball out of Porto. Climbing in the 3-5-2 scheme, he created at least five good chances in the early stage, especially the feet of Stephen, Maurício, Felipe Anderson and Ríos. Goalkeeper Claudio Ramos, replacing the injured Diogo Costa, saved the Portuguese with decisive defenses, including a sequence at the end of the first half that also had a saved ball on the line by the defender.
In the second half, the pace fell with the constant intervention of the Honduran referee Said Martinez, who paralyzed the game with debatable faults. Still, Palmeiras continued to insist, pushed by the fans and the substitutions promoted by Abel Ferreira. Paulinho, Raphael Veiga, Allan and Flaco López gave the team a new breath, who again pressured at the end.
Allan and Flaco almost scored, and Murilo hit the post after a corner kick. Palmeiras ended 15 times throughout the match, against seven from Porto, and had more possession of ball and offensive volume. Despite the solid performance, the goalless draw requires the Brazilian team to seek victory in the next round to continue with good chances of classification.
Posted by Felipe Dantas
