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Those of you who’ve seen nothing but the score – Palmeiras 3-0 Sampaio Corrêa – must be rather pleased. Or those who turned on the television with five minutes to the final whistle. Or those who happened to tune in when Marquinhos Gabriel replaced Leandro after the 15 wasted initial minutes of the second half.
Now, those of you who watched the whole thing know how nerve-wrecking it was. How inoperative Palmeiras were in the first half. How utterly relieving Mendieta’s goal was. After all: Palmeiras were kicked out of the Brazil Cup for two thirds of the game.
That being said, Palmeiras did win 3-0, with an additional three balls hitting the posts during the course of the game. Our keeper Fábio was tested perhaps twice, and corresponded well: certainly there’s no contest anymore in regard to who steps in when Prass is away.
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Special mentioning to Diogo, growing in productivity for each game, and with total dedication; Henrique, our own Lemmy Kilmister, who scored his fourth brace in as many games; and Marquinhos Gabriel, who completely changed the scenario in the second half, ripping Sampaio Corrêa’s tiring defence to pieces.
Palmeiras’ next opponent is spelled Avaí, from Florianópolis, former tennis champion Gustavo Kuerten’s passion. But only after the World Cup: the first leg, in Floripa, takes place sometime between 23-30 July (CBF yet to define dates) and the return game 6-13 August. If we’re entitled to dream, that return game’s venue would be the Allianz Parque.
Scoppia che la vittoria è nostra!
ANYTHING PALMEIRAS 