On penalties, Internacional beats CSA and advances in the Copa do Brasil

With emotion and in the limelight, Internacional guaranteed its participation in the round of 16 of the 2023 Copa do Brasil. from 2 to 1 and the vacancy was decided on penalties, with a 7 to 6 victory from Rio Grande do Sul, on the night of this Thursday. Keiler saved Bruno Matias’ eighth and decisive kick, and put Internacional through to the next stage.

With the passport guaranteed for the round of 16, Internacional still took R$ 3.3 million into its coffers, accumulating R$ 5.4 million in prize money. The CSA, on the other hand, said goodbye with R$ 3.750 million.

Internacional started the match with a scare. With a free kick, goalkeeper Keiler flew to avoid what would have been a great goal by Tomas Bastos. The CSA’s strategy was clear, at a disadvantage in the series, the club from Alagoas sought to impose itself in the match, but without exposing. Internacional, in turn, had more quality, but did not force the attack, leaving a very balanced match in the first 20 minutes.

Gradually the CSA loosened up. With a long-distance kick, Gabriel Taliari scared Keiler. The move woke up the Gaucho team. With more possession, the team arrived with danger in a header by Rodrigo Moledo and then, in a kick by Alemão. Kicks from outside the area were the CSA’s alternative in the match. After a few failed attempts, Tomas Bastos hit the target and opened the scoring in the 40th minute. The goal made Internacional hold the ball until the break, to prevent CSA from taking advantage of the good moment.

In the loss and with the match going to penalties, Internacional came back lit in the second half. With the entry of Maurício in place of Pedro Henrique, the team gained more presence in the midfield. Controlling the first few minutes, Alemão and Gustavo Campanharo stopped goalkeeper Daberson, who made two great saves in a row. Taking advantage of the moment, Internacional tied the match in the 18th minute.

Luiz Adriano, in his first participation, had the shot blocked. The ball gained height and Maurício denied the corner kick on the crossbar, the CSA defense partially blocked it and Alan Patrick was brought down in the area. Alan Patrick himself went to the penalty spot, displaced goalkeeper Dalberson and equalized the game in the 18th minute. The vacancy returned to the hands of the Gaucho team.

With the advantage, Internacional lowered the lines in search of a counterattack, to end the classification. Alan Patrick received it in speed, covered the goalkeeper, but the defense arrived in time and took the ball over the line. The CSA went all-or-nothing. Prowling around the Internacional area, the team had difficulty finding a space to finish.

Until the 36th minute, when Gabriel Taliari found Thiaguinho among the defenders and the attacker hit low to put the Alagoan team ahead again and take the dispute to penalties.

In the final stretch, Internacional went to despair, but found Daberson willing to turn the name of the game in the 90 minutes. Carlos de Pena hit cross and the goalkeeper spread. In the next move, the archer from Alagoas made a beautiful save with a kick from Maurício. Despite the pressure, Internacional did not avoid defeat and the decision went to penalties.

At the lime mark, the teams opened the series with 100% success, with Luiz Adriano and Rodolfo converting. On the second kick, Maurício stopped Dalberson, but Keiler saved Yago Henrique’s shot. In the third charge, the teams showed that they trained penalties and converted the last three of the normal series. In the alternates, the use continued high, until the eighth collection. After Vitão scored, Keiler saved Bruno Matias’ decisive penalty and secured Internacional’s classification, with a 7-6 victory.

Internacional returns to the field on Sunday, at 6:30 pm, against Goiás, in Beira Rio, in Porto Alegre (RS), for the third round of the Brasileirão. CSA, on the other hand, is focused on making its debut in the Brazilian Series C, against Confiança, in the first week of May.