Author: Vishwajit Sawant
Palmeiras surprise unbeaten Fortaleza and take the lead in the championship
Palmeiras dominated unbeaten Fortaleza with an imposing 3-0 win at Allianz Parque, taking a significant step towards securing a place in the quarter-finals of the Copa do Brasil.
Raphael Veiga (11′) opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Rony was fouled in the box. Bruno Tabata (18′) extended the lead with a header, initially credited to Gustavo Gómez, and Richard Ríos (88′) sealed the win with an accurate finish.
Palmeiras controlled the game calmly and efficiently, while Fortaleza struggled to threaten. The visitors failed to take advantage of the few chances they had, and goalkeeper Weverton had a relatively quiet night. Palmeiras now only need a draw or a defeat by up to two goals in the second leg to progress.
Coach Abel Ferreira made strategic substitutions, including the impressive debut of Luis Guilherme, showing the team’s depth. The second leg is scheduled for May 31, with Palmeiras also focused on their next Brasileirão match against Santos.
Santos fail to win as controversial offside leads to draw against Bahia
Santos and Bahia played out a goalless draw in their last-16 Copa do Brasil clash at Vila Belmiro. The match took a dramatic turn when Santos thought they had taken the lead through Deivid Washington (34 mins), but the goal was disallowed due to a controversial offside decision. The VAR was consulted, but the virtual lines drawn confirmed the annulment, leaving Santos frustrated. Goalkeeper João Paulo was called into action several times, making important saves to keep his team in the game.
Both teams had their moments, with Bahia threatening on the counter-attack and Santos struggling to create clear chances. Referee Sávio Pereira Sampaio suffered a blow to the head and had to temporarily stop the game to treat the bleeding. Although Santos increased the pressure in the second half, they couldn’t find a breakthrough, while Bahia also had chances to win.
Santos will now focus on a much-anticipated clash against Palmeiras on Saturday, while Bahia are preparing to host Goiás, both games being part of the 7th round of the Brasileirão.
Grêmio and Cruzeiro thrill fans with spectacular goals in entertaining draw
Grêmio and Cruzeiro thrilled the fans with a display of great goals as they drew 1-1 in the first leg of the last 16 of the Copa do Brasil at the Arena, Grêmio.
Cruzeiro went ahead early on through Bruno Rodrigues (8′), who hit the top corner with a precise shot. The visitors continued to threaten, with Wallisson hitting the post. Gremio responded with a shot from Bitello, brilliantly saved by Rafael Cabral, and Suárez hitting the crossbar.
In the second half, Suárez (79′) redeemed himself with a stunning goal to equalize. Grêmio tried to turn the game around, but failed to score the winning goal. The decisive second leg will take place on May 31 at Mineirão.
São Paulo take advantage of tactical change and red card to secure 2-0 win over Sport Recife
São Paulo maintained their unbeaten run against Sport Recife at Ilha do Retiro with a 2-0 win in the first leg of the last 16 of the Copa do Brasil.
Despite a difficult first half, Sport midfielder Fabinho (61′) was sent off and São Paulo took advantage. Substitutes Luciano (71′) and Marcos Paulo (89′) scored after Dorival Júnior made tactical changes. The result gives São Paulo a comfortable lead going into the second leg on June 1 at the Morumbi, where they can lose by one goal to secure a place in the quarter-finals.
With two goals from Aloísio, América-MG beat Internacional and secure a crucial lead
América-MG found relief in a crucial win against Internacional, securing a 2-0 triumph in the first leg of their Copa do Brasil round of 16 tie at Independência. Aloísio was the decisive factor, converting two penalty kicks and extending his impressive goalscoring form in the competition.
In a game full of cards, the match ended up being decided by penalties. In the 63rd minute, Alan Patrick opened the scoring for the away side, but the VAR disallowed the goal. The captain received his second yellow for an argument with the referee in the 65th minute.
The game went to extra time when Aloísio (90’+3′) converted the first penalty. Fabricio Bustos (90’+16′) was later shown the red card for a foul on the last man after a VAR check. Aloísio (90’+17′) converted his second penalty to secure victory for the hosts.
The result gives América-MG the advantage going into the second leg in Porto Alegre on May 31, where they will try to advance to the quarter-finals. Despite a poor performance from both teams, the win offers some relief for Coelho, who have struggled in the Campeonato Brasileiro, while Internacional face a challenging task against Gremio in their next game.
Athletico-PR recover against Botafogo despite early lead
Athletico-PR pulled off an impressive comeback to beat Botafogo 3-2 in a thrilling encounter at the Arena da Baixada in the first leg of the last 16 of the Copa do Brasil.
Botafogo took the lead in the first half, with goals from Tiquinho Soares (39′) and Luis Henrique (41′) in the space of two minutes. But the tide of the game changed in the second half. Vitor Roque (56′) started the comeback for Athletico-PR, followed by a fine long-range goal from Vitor Bueno (62′) to level the scores.
In the second half, Fernandinho’s header in the 82nd minute secured victory for the home side. Botafogo struggled to create meaningful chances after the early lead and will now face an uphill battle in the second leg. Athletico-PR will have the advantage of playing for a draw to secure their place in the quarter-finals, while Botafogo must win by a two-goal difference to advance directly or decide on penalties if they win by one goal. The second leg promises to be another intense battle between the two teams.
Paulinho’s goal gives Atlético-MG victory and leaves Corinthians in a precarious situation
Two goals from Paulinho secured Atlético-MG’s dominant 2-0 win over Corinthians in the first leg of the last 16 of the Copa do Brasil. The match showed a stark contrast in playing styles, with Galo dictating play and Timão opting for a defensive approach.
Atlético-MG had most of the possession in the first half, but failed to convert their dominance into goals. The home side’s best chance came from a long-range shot by Battaglia, brilliantly saved by Corinthians goalkeeper Cássio. The second half followed the same pattern, with Galo maintaining control but struggling to create clear chances.
However, the turning point finally came when Paulinho (66′) took advantage of a Pavón cross to open the scoring. The dynamic striker scored again in the 79th minute, taking advantage of Hulk’s throw-in, to secure a comfortable two-goal lead. The result puts Atlético-MG in a favorable position for the second leg at the Neo Química Arena.