Author: Vishwajit Sawant
The match, watched by 67,350 passionate fans, saw the only goal of the game, courtesy of Calleri, breaking his goal drought in the competition. The Argentinian striker scored with a header after a precise cross from Nestor and a lapse in concentration by Flamengo goalkeeper Matheus Cunha in the 46th minute.
In the opening minutes, São Paulo’s strategy, under the guidance of Dorival Júnior, proved more effective. The team controlled possession, exchanged passes calmly and showed quality in their play. Alisson controlled the midfield, while Lucas Moura gave pace to the attacks. Before the 20-minute mark, Wellington Rato and Calleri had promising chances, but their finishing was erratic.
On the contrary, Flamengo, with Bruno Henrique, Gabigol and Pedro leading the attack, struggled to create offensive chances. Instead, the team found themselves exposed defensively, as their forwards were unable to defend effectively. This allowed São Paulo’s Caio Paulista, Nestor and Rato to exploit the spaces and pose a constant threat.
Flamengo’s performance in the first half was summed up by their inability to register a single shot on goal. The only promising moment came in the 34th minute, when Gerson launched a quick attack, releasing Bruno Henrique. However, the São Paulo defence intervened, denying Gabigol the chance to capitalize.
Then, in stoppage time, São Paulo found the goal they were looking for. Nestor delivered a precise cross from the left, and Calleri, unmarked at the back post, took advantage of Matheus Cunha’s indecision, securing the decisive goal that caused the São Paulo fans to celebrate.
In the second half, São Paulo wasted several chances, especially down the right flank. Despite their best efforts, the team failed to extend their lead. However, as the game drew to a close, São Paulo’s pressure intensified. In the 43rd minute, a mistake by Matheus Cunha almost cost Flamengo, but Lucas Moura missed a golden chance.
Flamengo tried to turn things around in the second half, with Everton Ribeiro replacing Victor Hugo. Gabigol played more centrally and the first half was promising, with Flamengo pressing São Paulo. However, the game eventually lost its intensity and clear chances became scarce.
With the lead secured, Dorival Júnior made substitutions to give São Paulo more energy. On the other hand, Sampaoli tried to turn the tide for Flamengo, but his decision to replace Gabigol with Everton Cebolinha was met with boos from the disappointed fans.
The Maracanã fans were visibly upset and their frustration was directed at the team, including their beloved Gabigol, who was substituted in the second half due to injury. Not even the club’s board of directors was spared criticism, despite the significant revenue generated from ticket sales, which totaled more than R$26 million. The São Paulo fans, numbering around 3,500, were the ones celebrating the most as they waited for the final whistle.
With this result, the Tricolor Paulista go into the second leg at the Morumbi Stadium in São Paulo with the advantage of a draw. If Flamengo manage to equalize on goal difference, the championship will be decided in a penalty shootout.