Palmeiras beat São Paulo 2-1 on Sunday night (1st), at Arena Barueri, and . Verdão, which featured goals from Mauricio and Flaco López, will face Novorizontino in the big decision of the State.
After the game, the coach from Palmeiras, Abel Ferreira, was full of praise for the team’s performance against their rival. According to the coach, Alviverde was much superior and deserved the victory, which could have been by a bigger difference.
“We started the game very well, a very dynamic team. It was fair how we reached 2-0. In the first half, we had an opportunity with Piquerez. In the second half, we started well. They entered the game in a dubious move and it was more divided, but games against São Paulo are always very difficult. Today we were better in the 90 minutes”, he began.
On the field, Abel’s team was, in fact, better in practically the entire classic. Maurício opened the scoring in the first half after a pass from Vitor Roque, while Flaco doubled the score in the second half after a cross from Piquerez in a rehearsed play.
Choque-Rei took on dramatic and controversial tones, especially with requests for a penalty from the São Paulo side. Vitor Castanheira, Abel’s assistant, was expelled in the second stage.
Isn’t Vitor Roque a ‘Tigrinho’?
One of the defining moments of the classic involves Vitor Roque — and not because of his assistance to Maurício. At the end of the first half, the Palmeiras striker left the field crying after receiving successive fouls.
Despite this, he returned for the second stage and played until the 43rd minute. Abel Ferreira praised the center forward’s physical size and fight against opposing defenders.
“For me, he’s a lion, not a little tiger. He’s taken a lot of beatings. He’s a player with his own characteristics. He’s a player who needs a lot of affection,” said the coach.
Final of Paulistão
. Owner of the best campaign in the first phase, Tigre beat Santos, in the quarterfinals, and Corinthians, in the semifinals, to reach the decision.
The notorious campaign means that the Novo Horizonte team even has the advantage of field control in the decisive match. The first duel will be at Arena Barueri, on Wednesday (4), while the return is scheduled for Sunday (8), at the Jorge Ismael de Biasi Stadium, in the interior of São Paulo.
Abel Ferreira engineered the decision against the opponent who, in the initial phase, overpowered Verdão 4-0, in Novo Horizonte.
“Novorizontino didn’t lose at home. It’s a final and we already know what it’s like to play against them. They’re a very well-trained team, it’s no coincidence. I congratulate their coach on an extraordinary journey. We’ll have one day less to recover than our opponent. But we’re more than aware of the difficulties we’ll have. We want to win, but we know they want it too. We’ll try to play a dynamic game at home. There are two games, two opportunities to fight for a title”, added Abel.
