Palmeiras secured their place in the final of the Copa do Brasil this Sunday (8) by defeating Vasco on penalties 5-4. At a disadvantage having lost the first game 1-0, Cruzmatino was tireless and won 2-1 in the opening 90 minutes, leading to the definition of the place for penalties. There, the star of goalkeeper Carlos Miguel shone, who, more than two meters tall, saved two shots from the Rio team (Lescano and Andrés Goméz). In addition to securing a place in the final, Verdão secured their presence in the 2027 Copa Libertadores.
For the second time in history, the São Paulo team will compete for the Copa do Brasil trophy against Grêmio. The first was in the 2020 edition, when Verdão prevailed and won the fourth title – the team also won the 1998, 2012 and 2015 editions. Tricolor from Rio Grande do Sul is looking for its sixth championship, after the titles obtained in 1989, 1994, 1997, 2001 and 2016.
The final of the tournament will be a single game, on December 6th (a Sunday), at the Mané Garrincha Stadium, in Brasília.
The game had barely started and after two minutes Piquerez almost opened the score when he crossed the ball from the left. Goalkeeper Léo Jardim blocked the shot and the ball fell to Giay's feet, who shot dangerously, but the ball went close to Jardim's right post. In the next minute, it was Vasco who had the chance to score. Lescano launched a counterattack, got rid of the marking and shot hard from inside the area, but goalkeeper Carlos Miguel saved it. Then, in the ninth minute, Piquerez crossed to Flaco López. The Argentine striker headed the ball accurately, but the ball neatly hit the crossbar of the Cruzmatino goal and went out. Six minutes later, it was Árias' turn to almost open the scoring in São Januário. The Palmeiras striker fired with the ball unmarked, until he launched a bomb towards Léo Jardim's goal, and exploded against the post.
Soon after, also in the 15th minute, Vasco launched a counterattack. Cuiabano advanced from the left, beat the marking and crossed for Argentine Colídio to open the scoring by hitting the left-footed shot against goalkeeper Carlos Miguel. The game continued at an intense pace. In the 27th minute, Palmeiras almost equalized, after a ball raised in the attack to Flaco, who passed it to Maurício who headed towards the goal, but Léo Jardim stepped forward and defended with his right arm. With more possession of the ball, Verdão continued to press in search of a draw, but stopped in the Cruzmaltina defense.
In the second stage, Palmeiras wasted no time and equalized the score after 9 minutes. The play started with Evangelista in midfield, who passed to Piquerez on the left, who beat the marking before hitting a great goal in the left corner, which covered Léo Jardim. The draw favored the team from São Paulo, which had won the first game 1-0. Needing a tiebreaker to decide the classification on penalties, in the 22nd minute Vasco coach Pedro Emanuel put Uruguayan Puma Rodriguez on the field in place of Paulo Henrique at right-back. It only took two minutes for Puma to take advantage of Andrés Gómez's cross to shoot dangerously towards the goal. Then, in the 30th minute, he found the net with a beautiful free kick in two halves. Lescano passed to number 2 to send a torpedo, which pierced the barrier from below, leaving Carlos Miguel sold. Encouraged, Cruzmaltino tried to expand, but stopped in Verdão's defense. The match ended 2-1 and went to penalties.
Penalty taking
Palmeiras opened the series of five penalties with Vitor Roque. He scored the first by hitting the right corner of Léo Jardim, who actually touched the ball. Then, Lescano hit low and Carlos Miguel saved. Then, Gustavo Gómez shot high and converted another for Verdão, who led 2-1.
From then on, Thiago Mendes, Santiago Soza and Colídio charged for Vasco. On the Palmeiras side, Ramón Sosa and Andreas Pereira also hit. However, in the last of Verdão's five shots, Giay kicked weakly, making it easier for Léo Jardim to defend. Then, Uruguayan Puma Rodriguez shot hard into the right corner of Carlos Miguel's goal, and left everything equal: 4 to 4
In alternating shots, Marlon Freitas shot coolly and hit the left corner of Léo Jardim's goal. Then Colombian Andrés Goméz hit from the left, but goalkeeper Carlos Miguel was happy and saved, putting Palmeiras in the final of the Copa do Brasil.
