São Paulo beats Corinthians and goes to the final of the Copa do Brasil – 08/16/2023 – Sport

For the second time in its history, São Paulo will compete in the final of the Copa do Brasil. This Wednesday (16), at the Morumbi stadium, the tricolor team eliminated Corinthians in the semifinals and advanced to the final, in which they will fight for an unprecedented victory.

After losing the first leg, at the Neo Química Arena, in Itaquera, by 2 to 1, the tricolor formation won at home by 2 to 0, in a match in which they sought to turn around the aggregate score from the beginning.

The start of the game, however, was delayed due to acts of vandalism against the Corinthians bus. The vehicle had its windows broken by objects thrown in its direction. According to Duílio Monteiro Alves, Corinthians president, no one was injured.

When the ball rolled, the first goal came in the 13th minute, with Wellington Rato, with a beautiful shot from outside the area. Then, at 32, Lucas Moura extended the header.

It was only Lucas’ third game since returning to Brazil. Last Sunday (13), he scored the first goal against Flamengo in this round. Now, it was decisive for the classification.

The number 7 shirt dictated the rhythm of the first 45 minutes, in which São Paulo involved the opponent, spending a good part of the time in the attack and leaving almost no spaces to be attacked.

Corinthians even tried to react after the break, spending more time in the attacking field and had good chances, especially with Matías Rojas and Giuliano, but the hosts controlled the advantage well and took the spot.

São Paulo’s momentum in the first 45 minutes reflected the club’s desire to return to the final of the tournament, something that had only happened in 2000, in the season in which it met Cruzeiro in the final. At Morumbi, there was a goalless draw. In Minas, the home team won 2-1.

This time, the opponent will be Flamengo. This Wednesday, the team from Rio de Janeiro defeated Grêmio again, now, by 1 to 0, in Maracanã. In the first leg, in Porto Alegre, the Cariocas won 2-0.

With the red-black classification, the São Paulo coach, Dorival Junior, will meet his last club before taking over the Morumbi team. Champion of the Copa do Brasil and Libertadores with the formation of Rio, the coach left Gávea in December, by choice of the board.

In April, he took over the São Paulo team, in the vacancy left by Rogério Ceni, in a scenario similar to that of his first passage, in 2017.

The mission was to recover the team’s morale, which came from poor results and unconvincing performances under the command of their former goalkeeper and historical idol.

In addition to giving a new face to the team, which won important results in the Brazilian Championship and is in ninth place, it also took the team to the quarterfinals of the Copa Sudamericana, a phase in which the club will face LDU, from Ecuador, in addition to from the victorious campaign to the final of the Copa do Brasil.

The commander was responsible for rescuing the football of some players, such as Caio Paulista, Rodrigo Nestor and Pablo Maia. And he still received important reinforcements in the last transfer window, among them Lucas, holder of this Wednesday, and the Colombian James Rodríguez.

Even before their arrival, São Paulo had already achieved some impressive results, such as managing to eliminate Palmeiras in the quarterfinals of the Copa do Brasil, until then considered the main achievement of the coach in this passage.

Now, with the upset over Corinthians, he also helps the club to reduce the rival’s wide advantage in the history of clashes between clubs in knockouts. It was the 25th duel of this type between them, now with seven wins from São Paulo and 18 from Corinthians.

Of these clashes, 15 were for the Campeonato Paulista. Outside the State, the classic has already been played in the Recopa Sul-Americana of 2013, in the final of Rio São Paulo in 2002 and the semifinal of the Copa do Brasil of the same year, in addition to the final of the Brazilian of 1990, all with titles or classifications of the Corinthians.