The Estádio do Morumbi was electric on Thursday night as São Paulo faced off against rivals Corinthians in the semi-final second leg of the 2023 Copa do Brasil. With a 1-0 aggregate lead from the first leg, the Tricolor entered the return fixture eyeing a spot in the final – but aware that Corinthians were unlikely to go down without a fight on their own turf.
Setting the Scene – A Clash of São Paulo Titans
Any encounter between these two Brazilian giants is bound to be a tense, no-holds-barred affair – and the stakes were sky-high heading into this latest instalment of the Clássico Majestoso. São Paulo and Corinthians boast a combined 15 Brazilian national titles along with rich histories in the Copa do Brasil.
By The Numbers:
| Stat | São Paulo | Corinthians |
|---|---|---|
| Copa do Brasil Titles | 3 | 2 |
| Campeonato Brasiliero Titles | 6 | 7 |
| All-Time Head-to-Head Record | 149W, 142D, 130L | 150W, 142D, 129L |
| Record in 2022 League Meetings | 1W, 1D, 0L | 0W, 1D, 1L |
São Paulo were looking to reach their first final since winning the tournament back in 2012. Key to their hopes was talismanic attacking midfielder Wellington Rato along with the experience of former Premier League forwards David Neres and Lucas Moura.
Corinthians meanwhile were hoping to unleash their ‘Mosqueteiros‘ – the attacking foursome of Adson, Yuri Alberto, Renato Augusto and Róger Guedes. With veteran goalkeeper Cássio between the sticks, the Timão backline also posed an imposing barrier for São Paulo to break down.
First Half – São Paulo Settle Nerves to Take Control
The opening exchanges were predictably frenetic as both sets of players adjusted to the sheer magnitude of the occasion. Corinthians began brightly, cheered on vociferously by their partisan home support. They targeted São Paulo‘s left flank in particular – Adson finding pockets of space to drive into as Emerson Santos struggled to contain him.
Match Statistics (First Half):
| Stat | São Paulo | Corinthians |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 1 | 0 |
| Shots | 5 | 2 |
| Shots on Target | 2 | 1 |
| Corners | 3 | 1 |
| Fouls | 3 | 5 |
| Possession | 62% | 38% |
But gradually São Paulo began to find their rhythm, calmed by the composure of Nestor in midfield. On 13 minutes their early pressure told, as Wellington Rato produced a striker‘s finish from the edge of the box – guiding David Neres‘ pass superbly into the bottom corner beyond Cássio‘s outstretched gloves.
[insert photo of Wellington celebrating goal]13‘ GOOOOOOOAAAL! Wellington Rato fires São Paulo in front! Fantastic finish from the midfielder on David Neres‘ incisive pass. São Paulo‘s early dominance pays off to the delight of their travelling faithful. 1-0 Tricolor!Buoyed by the away goal, São Paulo grew in confidence – pinging passes around purposefully and penning Corinthians back. The Corinthians midfield found themselves increasingly overrun, unable to find Renato Augusto between the lines. Lucas Moura was at the heart of São Paulo‘s best moves, dropping deep before turning and running directly at the Corinthians rearguard. And a brilliant reverse pass on 37 minutes released David Neres through on goal, only for Cássio to deny the winger with a strong wrist.
At the other end, São Paulo dealt comfortably with Corinthians‘ sporadic counters – marshalled solidly by centre-back duo Diego Costa and Léo. When Adson did break through just before half-time, Rafael was quick off his line to smother the danger.
São Paulo‘s Tactical Setup:
Manager Rogério Ceni deployed his trusted 4-1-4-1 system with technically gifted midfielders Wellington Rato and Patrick given license to pull the strings going forward. This allowed São Paulo to control possession for large spells and supply striker Luciano Silva with regular service.
Second Half – São Paulo Seal the Deal as Corinthians Chase Game
0-1 down and needing at least two goals to stand any chance of progression, Vítor Pereira made a double switch at half-time – former Manchester City man Gabriel Jesus replacing Adson as Corinthians went all out attack. The change nearly paid instant dividends, Roger Guedes whistling a shot just over from 25 yards.
Match Statistics (Second Half):
| Stat | São Paulo | Corinthians |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 1 | 0 |
| Shots | 8 | 10 |
| Shots on Target | 3 | 1 |
| Corners | 2 | 5 |
| Fouls | 5 | 4 |
| Possession | 44% | 56% |
São Paulo though remained resolute and continued to carry their own threat going forward. And on 58 minutes Lucas Moura produced a composed low finish after being picked out expertly by Wellington Rato to put the Tricolor firmly in the driving seat at 2-0 up.
58‘ GOOOOOOOAAAL! Lucas Moura doubles São Paulo‘s advantage! That could be the nail in Corinthians‘ coffin - brilliant build up from Wellington to play Moura through who finishes clinically across Cássio. 2-0 to the visitors!With their tails up, São Paulo stroked passes around almost nonchalantly – revelling in the space afforded by their opponents. Corinthians meanwhile became increasingly desperate, committing more white shirts forward and leaving gaps at the back.
The final half hour settled into almost attack versus defence. Cássio made saves from Nestor, Patrick and David Neres while Léo narrowly diverted a goalbound Gabriel Jesus effort wide with an outstretched boot.
Save of the Match:
But São Paulo would not be denied. Diego Costa and Léo put their bodies on the line time after time; Rafael remained alert to mop up any danger. The keeper‘s sensational reflex stop to deny Yuri Alberto‘s blistering volley in the 70th minute was worth the entrance fee alone!
In the end Corinthians simply ran out of ideas and time against their rivals‘ supreme game management.
Job Done – São Paulo March On As Corinthians Left Frustrated
The full time whistle was greeted with scenes of unbridled joy from São Paulo players and staff alike. In front of a huge travelling support, this was a landmark result – finally overcoming their geographic neighbours in a Cup semi-final after previous failures.
Defender Diego Costa spoke post-match about the team‘s desire to win the Copa do Brasil for the tragic Leandro, a former player who passed away two years ago. Lifting that trophy next month would no doubt be an emotional moment for all connected with São Paulo FC.
In contrast, the Corinthians players looked dejected as the reality of elimination set in. For all their second half pressure they failed to seriously test Rafael in the São Paulo goal. Over both legs São Paulo were simply the smarter, more streetwise side – nullifying their opponents‘ main threats whilst showcasing their own offensive weaponry.
By The Numbers:
| Stat | São Paulo | Corinthians |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 2 | 0 |
| Shots | 13 | 12 |
| Shots on Target | 5 | 2 |
| Corners | 5 | 6 |
| Fouls | 8 | 9 |
| Possession | 53% | 47% |
| Passes Completed | 322 | 271 |
| Tackles Won | 19 | 15 |
| Aerial Duels Won | 16 | 11 |
Player Ratings:
São Paulo (4-1-4-1):
Rafael 8/10 – Commanding display, highlighted by magnificent reflex stop from Yuri Alberto
Igor Vinicius 7/10 – Handled Adson well defensively and got forward when possible
Diego Costa 9/10 – Rock at the back, threw himself in front of everything. Deserves a trophy after years of service
Léo 8/10 – Marshalled São Paulo‘s backline expertly alongside Diego Costa
Reinaldo 7/10 – Subdued going forward but solid defensively up against Róger Guedes
Gabriel Neves 8/10 – Shielded the defence effectively as the midfield anchor
Nestor 8/10 – Oozed class in midfield, always making himself available
Wellington Rato 9/10 – Sublime finish for the opener, creative hub for São Paulo in advanced areas
Patrick 7/10 – Worked tirelessly without much end product
Luciano Silva 7/10 – Led the line tirelessly before being withdrawn on 70 minutes
David Neres 8/10 – Lively on the left flank, denied by Cássio before the break
Subs:
Lucas Moura 8/10 – Sealed the tie with a clinical finish on the counter
Pablo Maia 7/10 – Helped see out the game after coming on in midfield
Marcos Guilherme 6/10 – Added fresh legs out wide in the closing stages
Manager:
Rogério Ceni 8/10 – Tactical plan worked to perfection to overcome rivals
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