Author: Barkha Roy
More than 30,000 spectators gathered for Corinthians’ recent open training session ahead of their semi-final clash with São Paulo in the Copa do Brasil. The Neo Quimica Arena buzzed on Tuesday, August 15, with fans anxiously watching the team’s preparations.
Under the guidance of coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo, midfielder Renato Augusto took part in the initial phase of training, while the other players played a compact game on the pitch. The session was held in front of a sizable audience of 32,540 enthusiastic fans.
However, the event took a negative turn when some Corinthians fans again chanted offensive and homophobic slurs at São Paulo fans.
This unfortunate incident mirrored a previous occurrence during the first game of the Brazilian Championship, held in the same Neo Quimica Arena. As a result, Corinthians suffered penalties and financial sanctions. In addition, the team was forced to play the next game against Vasco behind closed doors.
The next match against São Paulo, a decisive clash that will determine the finalist in the national competition, is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 16, at the Morumbi Stadium. In the first leg, Corinthians won 2-1.
The two goals for Corinthians were scored masterfully by Renato Augusto, while Luciano scored one for São Paulo.
Corinthians only need a draw in the second leg to progress. On the other hand, if São Paulo secure a win by a margin of two goals or more, they will clinch the coveted spot. If São Paulo win by one goal, the tie will be settled by a penalty shoot-out.
São Paulo’s performance on the national stage has been less than stellar recently, despite their commendable performance in the Copa Sudamericana. The team recently drew 1-1 with Flamengo in the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A, when Lucas Moura marked his return to the club with a goal. However, their opponents managed to level the score with a late penalty.
On the other hand, Corinthians are at a good stage, having overcome a challenging start to the season. In the most recent match, the team pulled off an impressive comeback to beat Coritiba 3-1, with goals from Gil, Yuri Alberto and Wesley reversing an early one-goal deficit.