This was Dorival Júnior’s first victory in charge of the team since his return
São Paulo improved its defining power, after two consecutive draws and secured first place to advance to the round of 16 of the Copa Sudamericana by beating Boston River 2-0 this Tuesday (26). In front of just over 15 thousand fans at MorumBis, the tricolor team played a calm game to end the group stage and celebrated the first victory under the command of Dorival Júnior.
With the triumph, they finish the first phase with 12 points. The draw that defines the round of 16 crosses, which will still have to wait for the playoffs of the runners-up against those eliminated from the Libertadores, will be held on Friday (29)from 12 noon.
Dorival’s São Paulo has been lethal in the first minutes of the game, and it was no different against Boston River. In every match since taking over the team, the coach has seen his players open the scoring before ten minutes of the ball rolling. Luciano scored at eight against Millonarios and at three in the duel with Botafogo. This Tuesday, Artur opened the scoring after four minutes.
The two previous matches ended in a 1-1 draw, in a demonstration of the tricolor team’s difficulty in killing the game. This was not repeated against their Uruguayan opponent, as the São Paulo team extended their lead to 2-0, after Artur advanced from the right and crossed into the area, where the ball hit the unfortunate Acosta, from Boston, and ended up in the net.
The first half could have ended with a greater goal difference in favor of São Paulo, because the home team’s offensive volume was so great. The pressure suffered by Boston River was great, which sometimes relied on a lack of aim and sometimes on saves from goalkeeper Juan González to prevent the damage from being greater.
São Paulo returned for the second half capable of printing the same rhythm presented throughout the initial stage. He continued to find spaces with ease and give the opposing defense trouble. Between balls blocked by the defenders and good interventions by González, the tricolor team came closer and closer to scoring the third goal.
The referee even awarded a penalty in favor of the São Paulo team, but went back after the VAR found that the foul had been offside.
