After a Crazy Game, Santos Reaches the Final
Bruno Romani | Apr 19, 2009 | Comments 0
Santos is in the first club qualified for the finals of Sao Paulo state championship. The club visited Palmeiras at Palestra Italia this Saturday and won 2-1. The match had all elements of a great game: inspired midfielders and forwards, a blunder from a goalkeeper and a good and old fight.
After the midweek horrible draw in the Copa Libertadores, Palmeiras needed a simple victory to advance to the state finals. But the side headed by Luxemburgo, considered one of the best by the press in the beginning of the season, failed again at home.
Santos played better all the time. Madson, Neymar and Kleber Pereira exposed all the cracks in the rival’s defense, which was missing veteran Edmilson due to a broken arm. With 17 minutes, Neymar left Madson face to face with Marcos. The short midfielder had no problems in scoring. At that point, only two goals could save Palmeiras. The ticking clock started to get in the nerves of Palmeiras’ players, especially Diego Souza.
In the beginning of the second-half, Paulo Henrique put Neymar in front of Marcos. The number 7 was stopped by defender Mauricio Ramos, who made the penalty and was red carded. Kleber Pereira took the penalty and scored the second. With 39 minutes left to score 3 goals and short of one man, Palmeiras fans gave up. And Santos controlled the situation. The club that almost did not qualify for the semis was eliminating the leader of the group stage of the tournament.
With 15 minutes left, things started to get interesting again. Pierre shot from very far. The shot with no high aspirations. Well, Fabio Costa who had made an important save in the first-half had an incredible blunder. Ball passing under his legs. A mistake that, he later confessed, was the worst of his career. Palmeiras was back in the game. Even the fans got excited again. But somebody forgot to tell Diego Souza that.
In the 36th mark, Santos coach Vagner Mancini sent defender Domingos to the game. Seconds later, the defender whispered a few good words in Diego Souza’s ear. He got crazy. Both player were ejected. Without touching the ball, Domingos took from the match the best player from Palmeiras.
A great confusion was started. It took a few minutes to remove Diego from the pitch. When everyone thought the number 7 found his way into the locker’s room, he returned to the pitch to attack Domingos again. This time he managed to kick hm. It seemed the number 7 from Palmeiras, so many times center of fights when Edmundo had the number, was alive again.
After the match, in a press conference, Diego called Domingos “coward”. Coaches Luxemburgo and Vagner Mancini also exchanged nervous comments.
After the fight, Santos had total control. That was the end of the line for Palmeiras, whose fans must be asking “where was Keirrisson?” The hype of the year has not been playing well, specially in important matches.
Santos now awaits for either Sao Paulo or Corinthians.
The goals and the blunder in HD here. The fight below:
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Filed Under: State Championships
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