Author: Vishwajit Sawant
In a disappointing turn of events
São Paulo suffered a 1-0 defeat to Cruzeiro at Independência
in a Brazilian Championship match on Saturday (24). The Tricolor found themselves trailing early on when Rafinha scored an own goal. Despite creating several chances, São Paulo’s attacking attempts were constantly thwarted by impressive saves from goalkeeper Rafael Cabral.
However, Luciano’s absence from the starting line-up provoked the ire of the fans. In his place, Alisson was chosen to fill the gap, which caused frustration among most São Paulo fans. During the post-match press conference, coach Dorival Júnior explained the decision, saying that the intense schedule of matches had led to the player’s preservation in Belo Horizonte.
Dorival expressed the challenges of managing the team in the midst of a demanding sequence of games, acknowledging the fans’ desire to see their favorite players on the pitch on a consistent basis. However, he stressed the importance of using the team’s resources effectively throughout the season. The coach also revealed that São Paulo face an exhausting schedule and that some players will be rested or benched to maintain performance levels.
Despite the defeat, Dorival Júnior considered the team’s performance positive, highlighting their ability to create chances. However, their inability to convert these chances into goals cost them dearly, allowing their opponents to secure victory.
São Paulo will resume their campaign on Tuesday (27) against Tigre (ARG) in the South American competition, hoping to bounce back and get a favorable result.