Author: Vishwajit Sawant
Palmeiras showed their dominance once again, triumphing in the final of the U-17 Brazil Cup with an impressive 4-1 win over Athletico-PR on Sunday. The Alviverde’s young stars, who were defending the 2022 title, showed their talent by winning their fourth title in the tournament’s history. The match started with a long-range shot from Luighi, which caught the goalkeeper off guard and went into the corner of the net to give Palmeiras an early lead.
Throughout the game, Palmeiras maintained control of the match, creating several opportunities that, unfortunately, weren’t taken, leaving the score at 1-0 at half-time. In the second half, Athletico-PR reacted and managed to equalize when Sorriso took advantage of a mistake by the goalkeeper. However, the resilient Verdão quickly regained control, with Luighi’s shot deflecting off two Athletico-PR players and finding the back of the net to restore the lead.
The highlight of the match, Estevão, showed his talent with a powerful shot from outside the area, with no chance for the opposing goalkeeper. In extra time, Érick Belé sealed the resounding victory by converting a well-placed cross to complete the 4-1 victory. Palmeiras controlled the game masterfully at the Arena Barueri, ensuring an unbeaten run in the tournament. Rafael Paiva’s side played a total of eight matches, winning seven and drawing one, scoring an impressive 44 goals and conceding just three.
Luighi stood out as Palmeiras’ top scorer, scoring nine times during the tournament. His feat also earned him the distinction of being the player to score the most goals for Palmeiras in a single edition of the U-17 Brazil Cup, surpassing the records set by João Pedro in 2019 and Endrick in 2022. Palmeiras’ youth teams continue to shine, having already won the Copinha earlier this year and narrowly missing out on the Paulistão U-20 title in 2022. The future looks incredibly bright for Palmeiras’ talented young stars, who are continuing their run of success in the youth and professional ranks.