São Paulo beats Palmeiras and wins the Brazilian Super Cup for the 1st time

São Paulo won, this Sunday (4), the title that was missing in 94 years of history. Tricolor, champion of the 2023 Copa do Brasil, lifted the Brazilian Super Cup by defeating rival Palmeiras, winner of the last Brazilian Championship, 4-2, on penalties, after a goalless draw in normal time. The duel was held at Mineirão, in Belo Horizonte.

The achievement increased São Paulo's supremacy against Palmeiras in the finals. It was the fourth time that the rivals decided on a title and the third with a victory for Tricolor. The previous two were in the 1992 and 2021 Paulista Championships. Considering eliminatory clashes, the Morumbi team achieved their 17th victory over Verdão, in 22 meetings.

It was also Thiago Carpini's first title. The 39-year-old coach arrived at São Paulo in January, coming from Juventude, as a replacement for Dorival Júnior, who took over the Brazilian team. He had hit the post last year, when he reached the Paulistão final leading Água Santa, losing precisely to Palmeiras.

Fans back to the classics

Contrary to what would happen if the game took place in São Paulo, where the classics are only attended by the home fans, this Sunday's final, held in Belo Horizonte, brought together fans from both clubs – which has not happened since April 2016. According to the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), the security force included more than 600 agents working among the public, in addition to others scattered outside the stadium, helicopters, drones, sniffer dogs and members of the elite Minas Gerais police troop. .

The competition, this year, was called Supercopa Rei, in reference to Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as Pelé. Before the ball rolled, the president of the CBF, Ednaldo Rodrigues, went to the field with one of the daughters of the King of Football , Flávia Kurtz; Arthur Nascimento, grandson of the Athlete of the Century; and former midfielder Clodoaldo, number 10's partner at Santos and the Brazilian national team. They took the trophy to the pitch.

Another person honored in the decision was Zagallo, who passed away on January 5th, aged 92. The opening whistle was preceded by a minute of silence, dedicated to Velho Lobo, world champion with the Brazilian team as a player (1958 and 1962), coach (1970) and assistant coach (1994). Furthermore, in the 13th minute of the first stage, the Mineirão screen displayed the image of the idol, with the phrase “Zagallo E13rno”.

Goals, only on penalties

The first most dangerous attack was from Palmeiras. After two minutes, full-back Marcos Rocha took a throw-in from the right, sending Rony into the area. The attacker dominated and hit a cross, forcing goalkeeper Rafael to make a good save. São Paulo's response came in the 23rd minute. Striker Jonathan Calleri beat Marcos Rocha at the edge of the area and the ball was left for midfielder Nikão to shoot low. The shot deflected off defender Gustavo Gómez, but goalkeeper Weverton managed to send it to a corner.

From then on, Verdão started to have more presence in the offensive field, even with less possession of the ball (43% to 57%). In the 25th minute, Mayke was played on the right by striker Flaco López. The full-back invaded the area freely, but shot at Rafael. Three minutes later, Rony crossed from the left and midfielder Raphael Veiga headed it away. The ball went close to Tricolor's left post. At 34, Zé Rafael took advantage of a free kick that the defense cleared, but the midfielder's shot, from outside the area, went to the right of the goal.

Palmeiras continued to put pressure on São Paulo after the break, mainly on the right, with Mayke. In the fourth minute, he crossed to Flaco López, who found the outside of the net. At 23, the full-back placed it in the area and midfielder Jhon Jhon headed it over the crossbar. In the 31st minute, Mayke again got the better of the marking and hit a cross. The ball passed Rafael and when Rony appeared in the small area to finish, full-back Moreira anticipated and saved it over the line.

A minute later, São Paulo finally got scared, after a mistake by Weverton, who played the wrong way and gave the ball to Calleri's feet. The attacker entered the area and finished, but the Alviverde goalkeeper redeemed himself. At 35, it was midfielder Giuliano Galoppo's turn to almost do it, with a free kick that grazed Palmeiras' left post.

The duel, very truncated (30 fouls and nine cards) became more nervous as it drew to a close, with the teams considering the right time to attack. The last dangerous move was a shot from outside the area by midfielder Aníbal Moreno, from Palmeiras, which went close to Rafael's right post.

The confrontation went to penalties. Calleri and Raphael Veiga opened the count. Galoppo and midfielder Gabriel Menino maintained the 100% success rate of both teams. In the third series, midfielder Pablo Maia hit São Paulo's shot, but defender Murilo stopped Rafael. Midfielder Michel Araújo converted Tricolor's fourth shot and forced Joaquín Piquerez to score, but the Palmeiras full-back also had his shot saved by the São Paulo goalkeeper, which guaranteed the Morumbi club an unprecedented trophy.