Author: Vishwajit Sawant
Fortaleza booked their place in the final of the 2023 Copa Sudamericana by beating Corinthians 2-0 in a thrilling game at the Arena Castelão.
The Brazilian team’s triumph became even more historic: the club reached the continental final for the first time and also became the first team from the northeast of Brazil to reach the continental final. As for Corinthians, their focus is on the Brazilian Championship, trying to escape the relegation zone.
Fortaleza’s dominance on the pitch was complemented by a spectacular display in the stands. The fans organized a mosaic with the words “One club, one dream”, setting the scene for an electrifying atmosphere. Flags waved and instruments played to improve the reception for both teams.
Fortaleza’s initial control of the game was evident, as they managed possession, delivered crosses and won attacking corners. Although Corinthians created the first clear goal-scoring opportunity when Yuri Alberto came up against João Ricardo, the São Paulo side failed to capitalize.
The controversy arose during the first half, when a tackle by Tomás Pochettino on Gabriel Moscardo resulted in a yellow card. This decision led to complaints from Corinthians fans, but the VAR upheld the decision and the game continued.
The moment of explosion finally arrived for the Fortaleza fans at the start of the second half. Yago Pikachu took advantage of the confusion in the Corinthian defense and scored the winning goal. Just six minutes later, Tinga took advantage of a well-executed move and doubled Fortaleza’s lead, sparking euphoria among the 60,000 fans who packed the stadium.
Corinthians, under new coach Mano Menezes, struggled to control the match, but…
For their participation in the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana, Corinthians earned 6 million 100 thousand dollars in prize money. Fortaleza have already earned 6 million 450 thousand (including 2 million for reaching the final). Victory in the final will earn the club another 3 million.
The final of the 2023 Copa Sudamericana is scheduled for October 28 at the Domingo Burgueño Miguel Stadium in Punta del Este, Uruguay. The Brazilians’ opponents will be Ecuador’s LDU, who beat Defensa y Justicia.