Palmeiras will play in the seventh final in a row against Paulistão. They achieved the feat by defeating São Paulo 2-1 in a classic played this Sunday, at Arena Barueri. At home, they were superior to their rivals in almost all of Choque-Rei and built the triumph with goals from Maurício and Flaco López. Calleri scored the São Paulo goal from a penalty, which belatedly showed a reaction. Choque-Rei had controversial arbitration by Daiane Muniz, whose decisions raised complaints from both sides.
The rival in the decision will be Novorizontino, who left Corinthians along the way. The final will be played over two matches. The first is scheduled for Wednesday, 4th, and is led by Palmeiras. The Novo Horizonte team will decide the title next Sunday, the 8th, at home, at the Jorge Ismael de Biasi Stadium, because they had the best campaign in the State.
Palmeiras gave the knockout game its due importance and started at a fast pace in the first half. São Paulo, not so much. This behavior, in addition to the adjustments in marking and pressure when passing the ball, were decisive for the score in the initial stage.
Younger, lighter and more complete, Palmeiras was efficient in putting pressure on their rival and escaping, with mobility, from marking. He scored an early goal, in the seventh minute, in a plot that involved Flaco López and Vitor Roque until Maurício scored from the left and managed the advantage he gained intelligently.
Heavier than the alviverde team, São Paulo missed Danielzinho, who started the match on the bench. Luan was a starter in the midfield trio with Bobadilla and Marcos Antônio and did not play well. The visitors insisted on long balls and easily lost the ball when they tried to leave standing up. There was a lack of approach and mobility.
The scenario for São Paulo in the first 45 minutes was not so adverse because Piquerez finished off an almost perfect counterattack that would extend Palmeiras’ advantage. The play involved Maurício and Vitor Roque until the full-back made the wrong choice close to goalkeeper Rafael.
Crespo made use of Danielzinho in the final stage and the visitors improved. But Flaco López scored the second at 11, after a rehearsed free kick, right at the moment when the Tricolor team was beginning to evolve.
The game seemed resolved. But it wasn’t because a mistake by Marlon Freitas put São Paulo back in the match. A hand from the experienced midfielder on Bobadilla’s neck inside the area was enough for Daiane Muniz to consider a penalty. Calleri converted and revived the São Paulo team.
The referee was the target of complaints from both teams. She reversed fouls and throw-ins and presented a yellow card to the wrong athlete – Sabino instead of Danielzinho.
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