Palm trees left, massacre Água Santa and conquer Paulistão

The 2023 Paulista Championship ended with the same script as in 2022. As happened last year against São Paulo, Palmeiras staged a comeback with a massacre over Água Santa and lifted the trophy once again.

The 25th state conquest in the history of the alviverde team was secured with impeccable and champion football, especially in the first half, and with a 4-0 defeat of the valiant team from Diadema. Gabriel Menino was top scorer in the afternoon with two goals, Endrick showed that fasting was in the past by scoring the third and Argentine Flaco López sanctified the Palmeiras run-in at Allianz Parque.

For some time now in the gallery of the greatest coaches in Palmeiras history, Abel Ferreira lifted his eighth trophy and showed more of his competence. It was thanks to his strategy, easily understood by the athletes, who always seem to know how to execute it, especially in decisions, that Palmeiras won another cup, the second in 2023 – he also won the Brazilian Super Cup over Flamengo.

The coach set up his traditional plan of intensity and aggressiveness that made his athletes, pushed by more than 41,000 people from Palmeiras, capable of dominating the competent rival of Diadema from start to finish. It was an almost perfect presentation against a team that was much inferior tactically, but that reached the decision with merits.

A floodplain club until 2011, Água Santa leaves Paulistão strengthened and will have time to organize itself with a view to 2024, when it will compete in the Copa do Brasil and Série D of the Brazilian Championship, in addition to the elite of São Paulo football. This year, he won’t compete anymore. Palmeiras has more Copa do Brasil, Brasileirão and Libertadores ahead. There is no doubt that he will fight on three fronts.

Palmeiras Massacre in the Paulistão final

The advantage obtained by Água Santa in the first duel in Barueri was undone in the 15th minute and passed to Palmeiras in the 26th minute. 11 minutes.

The first he made in a beautiful shot from outside the area after his free kick exploded in the barrier. The second the midfielder scored with a header and it was a painting thanks to Dudu’s extraordinary dribbling on the marker before he crossed for Menino to score.

The third came from the young phenomenon Endrick’s feet. Chosen as a starter after four games with the reserves, the 16-year-old striker took advantage of the goalkeeper’s rebound in Rony’s final and scored Allianz Parque with the third goal in an afternoon of celebration and attendance record. The arena had 41,444 fans, the highest number since it opened in 2014. At the end of the first stage, Dudu punched Didi in the back, but was not expelled. Raphael Claus decided to present yellow for the number 7 shirt.

The score built in the first half allowed Palmeiras to play calmly and comfortably in the final stage. He was not threatened by the weakened Água Santa and even turned the victory into a rout with another goal. The Argentine Flaco López, one of those who left the bench, received from Rony and hit beautifully, with a left hand, to seal the Alviverde tour, which ended with “olé” coming from the stands.

DATASHEET

PALM TREES 4 X 0 HOLY WATER

GOALS – Gabriel Menino, at 15 and 26, Endrick, at 33 of Q1; López, at 27 of Q2.

PALM TREES – Weverton; Marcos Rocha, Gustavo Gómez, Murilo and Vanderlan; Zé Rafael, Gabriel Menino (Jhon Jhon) and Raphael Veiga (Fabinho); Dudu (López), Rony (Breno Lopes) and Endrick (Garcia). Technician: Abel Ferreira.

HOLY WATER – Ygor Vineyards; Reginaldo, Marcondes, Didi and Gabriel Inocêncio; Thiaguinho (Júnior Todinho), Kady (Patrick Allan) and Igor Henrique (Cristiano); Lucas Tocantins (Bruno Xavier), Luan Dias and Bruno Mezenga. Technician: Thiago Carpini.

REFEREE – Raphael Claus.

YELLOW CARDS – Bruno Mezenga, Marcondes, Katy, Gabriel Menino, Dudu, Luan Dias, Murilo, Júnior Todinho, Vanderlan, Zé Rafael, López.

RED CARD – Villian (Agua Santa bank).

Audience: 41,444.

Income: BRL 3,583,469.93.

Location: Allianz Park.