In the second final of the season, Palmeiras and Flamengo entertained football fans playing a game with lots of opportunities and a couple of beautiful goals. Already in the first minute, Diego Alves failed to clear the ball and Felipe Melo returned it directly to Veiga, who with a class act dribbled Arão before slotting it home.
The advantage on the scorecard allowed Palmeiras to play on counter-attacks and opportunities came, but our players constantly failed the last pass. Flamengo, on the other hand, seized the error of Luan to score the equalizer, with Gabigol pushing the ball into the open goal after Filipe Luís hit the woodwork. Flamengo’s second came just before halftime: Marcos Rocha didn’t put enough pressure on Arrascaeta, who fired a nice shot from outside the box on Weverton’s bottom right corner to go into halftime with the advantage
In the second half, the game remained open. While Flamengo stopped on another astonishing exhibition of Weverton, Palmeiras continued to fail the last pass or the shot. In the 73rd minute, Rony’s shirt was pulled by Rodrigo Caio and the referee awarded the penalty. Raphael Veiga took a perfect shot to score his second goal and equalize the scorecard. Both teams had the chance to define things on regular time, but the score remained 2-2 and the title would be decided on a penalty shootout.
Palmeiras scored the three first penalties, while Flamengo missed the second and third. Had Luan (our fourth penalty) or Danilo (fifth) scored, the title was guaranteed, but both missed their chances. In the alternated shootouts, Gabriel Menino and Mayke were stopped by Diego Alves. Weverton managed to avoid defeat by saving Pepê’s shot, but Rodrigo Caio was unforgiving, securing Flamengo their second title of the Supercopa.
Line-up
Weverton; Marcos Rocha (Mayke), Luan, Gustavo Gómez and Viña; Felipe Melo (Danilo), Zé Rafael (Gabriel Menino) and Raphael Veiga; Wesley (Gabriel Veron), Breno Lopes and Rony (Scarpa).
Mayke, Luan, Felipe Melo and Wesley received yellow cards.
Green Light
Weverton again showed he is probably the best Brazilian goalkeeper of the moment. With Alisson in bad shape at Liverpool and Éderson not showing too much to impress, it’s time Tite tries him out as a starter in the Amarelinha.
Yellow Light
Although being a final, this game shouldn’t have much effect on the future of Palmeiras in the year. However, the same problems of the game against Defensa y Justicia were notable again: too much space behind our defensive midfielders. The entrances of Gabriel Menino and Danilo improved the situation, but not completely, as Flamengo continued threatening Weverton’s target.
Red Light
Wasting a two goals advantage in a penalty shootout is equivalent to allowing the opponent to equalize the scorecard with two goals on stoppage time. Luan and Danilo had the trophy in their hands and one of them should have converted.
Next Challenge
Continuing the “final tour”, Palmeiras play the second leg of the Recopa on Wednesday 14th. The victory in the first leg gives Palmeiras the advantage of bagging the title with a draw in the return match. The game is scheduled to be played at the Mané Garrincha Stadium, but the current situation of the pandemic in Brazil doesn’t allow us to be sure of anything.
Scoppia che la vittoria è nostra!
– – – ooo – – –
by Augusto Anteghini Oazi
*Here at Anything Palmeiras, we love football. We love Palmeiras. We are always keen to see Palmeiras play, and keen to write about it for you. But we’re against the return of football in a country that still hasn’t controlled the coronavirus pandemic. We express our deepest sympathy to the families whose loved ones have been taken by the disease.
ANYTHING PALMEIRAS 