São Paulo breaks Palmeiras’ unbeaten record and opens up advantage in Paulista’s final

São Paulo took a big step this Wednesday (30) to win the São Paulo championship. In front of crowded stands at Morumbi, the tricolor team defeated Palmeiras 3-1 in the first game of the State final.

Jonathan Calleri, twice, and Pablo Maia scored the goals that give the São Paulo team the advantage of being able to lose by up to a goal difference in the return duel that even so the title will be for the tricolors. Raphael Veiga was the one who discounted it.

The game that will decide the 2022 state champion takes place on Sunday (3), at 4 pm, at Allianz Parque.

In addition to needing to win, by at least two goals difference to take the dispute to penalties, the Palmeirense team also saw its unbeaten record in the competition fall. In 14 games before the decision, he accumulated 11 wins and three draws. In the whole season, there were 19 matches, with only two defeats. In addition to the setback against São Paulo, he lost the World Cup final to Chelsea.

This is only the third time in history that Palmeiras and São Paulo duel in the State final and the tricolor team takes advantage. He was champion in 1992 and last year.

São Paulo also has an advantage in the history of playoffs. In 18 matches in knockout or final games, he won 14 times and lost 4. Rogério Ceni used this in part of his speech to motivate his players, especially as he seeks his first title as a tricolor coach.

Multichampion as a goalkeeper for the Morumbi team, including three trophies from Paulista, he has seven titles on the sidelines, four with Fortaleza and three with Flamengo.

Abel Ferreira, in turn, is looking for his fifth title at the head of the alviverde squad — he has two Libertadores, a Copa do Brasil and a Recopa Sudamericana.

For the Portuguese to win the state championship for the first time, however, Palmeiras will need to look for a big comeback in the second game.

The first 45 minutes of the decision were more fought than played. Palmeiras had some of their main players below average, such as Raphael Veiga and Dudu, and it didn’t require much work from goalkeeper Jandrei.

São Paulo, on the other hand, bet on speed arrivals, but had difficulties to get the ball to Jonathan Calleri, well marked by Gustavo Gómez.

The best chance of the first half with the ball rolling was a shot by Alisson, just in the 11th minute, when he hit the post with a shot from outside the area. After that, the game started to have many fouls and little creativity on the part of the players.

The score was not reset before the break because, in stoppage time, the referee signaled a penalty by Marcos Rocha, who deflected the ball with his hand in the area, in a move that the VAR (video referee) had to alert the referee. Calleri converted the kick and scored his seventh goal in the championship.

The advantage gave confidence to the hosts. In the complementary stage, they pressured the opponent until reaching the second goal, in the 18th minute, with Pablo Maia, in a shot from outside the area that deflected in the alviverde defense.

Before the end, there was still time for Calleri to hit the net again, in the 35th minute. At 39, however, Veiga scored for the visitors in a free kick.