Hugo Souza shines, saves Estêvão’s penalty and secures a draw for Palmeiras x Coritnhians

The Paulista Derby between Palmeiras and Corinthians was filled with tension and drama until the very last second. The highly anticipated clash, part of the Campeonato Paulista group stage, ended in a 1-1 draw, but not without a major turning point in the final minutes. Palmeiras had a golden opportunity to secure the win when Estêvão won a penalty in the 44th minute of the second half. However, Corinthians goalkeeper Hugo Souza made a stunning save, denying the young forward and ensuring his team walked away with a crucial point. This was the sixth penalty saved by Hugo Souza since joining Corinthians, further solidifying his reputation as a decisive shot-stopper.

The match started at a high pace, with Palmeiras dominating possession and pressing aggressively. It didn’t take long for the home side to open the scoring, as Mauricio found the back of the net in the 9th minute after receiving a precise through ball from Piquerez. Despite Palmeiras’ dominance, Corinthians managed to respond late in the first half. In the 42nd minute, a mistake in Palmeiras’ midfield led to a quick counterattack, where Memphis Depay assisted Yuri Alberto, who calmly slotted the ball past Weverton to level the score.

In the second half, the game took another turn when Yuri Alberto was sent off in the 16th minute after receiving a second yellow card for simulation. With a numerical advantage, Palmeiras increased their offensive pressure, coming close to scoring several times. Mayke hit the post, Piquerez forced Hugo Souza into a save, and Facundo Torres narrowly missed with a header. The game entered its final moments with Palmeiras throwing everything forward in search of a winner.

Decisive Moment: The Penalty and Hugo Souza’s Heroics

At the 44-minute mark of the second half, Estêvão dribbled past two defenders before being brought down inside the box by Ryan. Referee Raphael Claus immediately pointed to the penalty spot, setting the stage for a dramatic finish. The Palmeiras fans erupted in anticipation as Estêvão stepped up to take the spot-kick. He aimed for the bottom left corner, but Hugo Souza guessed correctly, diving to make a crucial save and keeping Corinthians level.

The Allianz Parque was left in shock as the young Palmeiras forward saw his effort denied. Corinthians players celebrated the save as if it were a goal, while Palmeiras continued to push forward in the final minutes. In stoppage time, Palmeiras won a corner kick, but the Corinthians defense held firm, clearing the ball away before the final whistle confirmed the 1-1 result.

Key Players and Standout Performances

• Hugo Souza: The hero of the night with crucial saves, including the game-saving penalty stop.
• Maurício: Opened the scoring for Palmeiras with a well-placed finish.
• Yuri Alberto: Scored Corinthians’ equalizer but was later sent off for simulation.
• Piquerez: Provided the assist for the opening goal and was involved in key attacking plays.
• Facundo Torres: Threatened throughout the game and came close to scoring with a header.

Match Statistics (Up to 55 Minutes)

• Possession: Palmeiras 64% x 36% Corinthians
• Shots on Goal: Palmeiras 17 x 6 Corinthians
• Big Chances Created: Palmeiras 7 x 2 Corinthians
• Corner Kicks: Palmeiras 8 x 4 Corinthians
• Saves: Weverton 2 x 5 Hugo Souza
• Fouls Committed: Palmeiras 15 x 20 Corinthians
• Yellow Cards: Palmeiras 2 x 3 Corinthians
• Red Cards: Palmeiras 0 x 1 Corinthians

Second Half Timeline of Key Events

1. Yuri Alberto Sent Off (16′ 2H): The Corinthians forward received a second yellow for diving, leaving his team a man down.
2. Mayke Hits the Post (30′ 2H): A dangerous header from Mayke struck the woodwork.
3. Palmeiras’ Relentless Pressure (35′-42′ 2H): Palmeiras continued attacking but couldn’t find the breakthrough.
4. Penalty for Palmeiras (44′ 2H): Estêvão was fouled inside the box, and the referee awarded the penalty.
5. Hugo Souza Saves the Penalty (47′ 2H): The Corinthians goalkeeper made a clutch save to deny Estêvão.
6. Final Attack by Palmeiras (50′ 2H): A last-minute corner was cleared by the Corinthians defense before the final whistle.

Impact of the Result on the Paulista Standings

With this draw, Palmeiras missed a crucial chance to climb to second place in their group. Despite dominating possession and creating multiple scoring chances, the team struggled to convert opportunities into goals. Coach Abel Ferreira will now need to address finishing issues as the tournament progresses.

For Corinthians, the draw felt like a victory given the circumstances. Playing with ten men for nearly the entire second half, the team showed resilience, and Hugo Souza’s heroics proved to be the difference. The Timão remains in the top positions of the standings, continuing their solid campaign in the competition.

Upcoming Matches in the Campeonato Paulista

• Palmeiras: The Verdão will face São Bernardo next, needing a win to recover their position in the standings.
• Corinthians: The Timão will take on Água Santa, aiming to extend their unbeaten run in the tournament.

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