Author: Chandra Moulee Das
São Paulo faced yet another challenge in the Copa Sudamericana when they hosted Academia Puerto Cabello (Venezuela) at the Morumbi Stadium on Tuesday, coming away with a 2-0 victory. The goals were scored by midfielders Marcos Paulo and Michel Araújo.
The game was seen as a night of redemption for coach Rogério Ceni, who was facing threats of dismissal, and also for the São Paulo side, criticized after their defeat to Botafogo on Saturday (15). However, the team struggled to break through the Puerto Cabello defense and only managed to score at the end of the match.
Marcos Paulo scored the first goal almost 40 minutes into the second half and Michel Araújo added to the tally with a fine run down the right flank.
The mood among the São Paulo fans ahead of the game was not optimistic, given the recent performances of a goalless draw against Ituano and a 2-1 defeat to Botafogo. As a result, Rogério Ceni’s job was hotly contested, but the victory eased the pressure on him.
Although São Paulo were expected to dominate the first half, the game was different from the training sessions. Tricolor had more possession and shots, but failed to excite the Morumbi crowd.
Despite almost 10 attempts on goal from São Paulo, only one of them forced goalkeeper Miguel Silva to make a save. Caio Paulista received the pass on the left side of the attack and shot firmly, but the opposing goalkeeper managed to hold on to the shot.
It wasn’t until the 86th minute that Calleri received the ball inside the area and passed it to Marcos Paulo, who scored his first goal in a São Paulo shirt. Just two minutes later, Michel Araujo received a pass from Nestor, entered the penalty area and beat goalkeeper Romero to make it 2-0.
São Paulo’s next match is on May 2, in the Copa Sudamericana, when they travel to Colombia to face Tolima. Before that, on Saturday, May 22, the Tricolor host América-MG in the first game of the Brazilian Championship at the Morumbi Stadium.