There are 25 points for Verdão, who leads the championship with five advantages over São Paulo and Fluminense, the closest in the table
O Palmeiras began the challenging sequence as a visitor this Sunday with a 2-1 victory over Bahia. In Salvador, the Brasileirão leader showed strength after being dominated for part of the second half and secured his fifth consecutive victory in the tournament in the final minutes.
There are 25 points for Palmeiras, who lead the championship with five advantages over São Paulo and Fluminensethe closest in the table. The alviverde team overturned Bahia’s long unbeaten run at home. It was almost five months without losing at Fonte Nova. The first setback as host in the tournament saw the Bahians fall to fifth place, with 17 points.
There will be two more consecutive matches for Palmeiras away from home, including their debut in the Libertadores, scheduled for Wednesday against Junior Barranquilla, in Colombia. Then, on Sunday, they visit arch-rival Corinthians in Itaquera, in a duel in the 11th round of the Brasileirão.
O game was an indication that the two should really fight among the tournament leaders until the end. Strong at home, Bahia did as they always do at Fonte Nova: they imposed themselves and had a great volume of play in the first 45 minutes. But the hosts lacked connections and approach, unable to find spaces in the Palmeiras defense. It was passive control by the Bahians.
Palmeiras closed down and didn’t suffer as much. He also rarely managed to keep the ball in attack. However, the first time they attacked Bahia, scored thanks to the talent of two of its most talented players. Flaco López rolled with his heel for Jhon Arias to hit the left corner. A painting of the efficient visitor.
Palmeiras’ start to the second half was promising, as they went to the net again, with Maurício. The goal, however, was not valid because it was offside at the origin of the play. After that, the São Paulo team’s game didn’t flow. THE Bahia grew, started to mount the attacks that it had not achieved in the first half and it was dominant. So much so that it made Carlos Miguel work on a powerful finish from Uruguayan Cristian Olivera.
The giant Palmeiras goalkeeper could do nothing when defender David Duarte rose higher than all the markers in the area to hit a violent header and tie the game.
Os Bahians remained on the attack for a few minutesbut the São Paulo team withstood the pressure, cooled down the match and grew in the game as Abel Ferreira changed the team. They resisted and were resilient to attack again with intelligence.
Rested, Sosa, Lucas Evangelista, Felipe Anderson and Luighi gave freshness to the alviverde team, which then began to dominate at Fonte Nova. There were two clear chances in counterattacks until they found the net, taking advantage of Ramos Mingo’s luck and misfortune. The defender hesitated and scored against the goal that defined Palmeiras’ victory after a cross from Andreas Pereira.
BAHIA 1X 2 PALM TREES
BAHIA: Léo Vieira; Acevedo, David Duarte, Ramos Mingo and Luciano Juba; Caio Alexandre (Erick), Jean Lucas and Everton Ribeiro (Michel Araújo); Cristian Olivera (Ademir), Erick Pulga (Dell) and Everaldo (Willian José). Coach: Rogério Ceni.
PALMEIRAS: Carlos Miguel; Giay, Murilo, Gustavo Gómez and Arthur (Khellven); Marlon Freitas, Andreas Pereira, Allan (Felipe Anderson), Maurício (Lucas Evangelista) and Arias (Sosa); Flaco López (Luighi). Coach: Abel Ferreira.
GOALS: Arias, at 41 in the 1Q. David Duarte, at 13, and Ramos Mingo (against) in the 2nd Quarter.
REFEREE: Lucas Casagrande.
YELLOW CARDS: Luciano Juba, Arias, Giay, Khellven, Abel Ferreira, Rogério Ceni, Gabriel Xavier.
AUDIENCE: 41,645 fans.
INCOME: R$ 1,794,354.50.
LOCATION: Arena Fonte Nova, in Salvador (BA).
*Estadão Content
