Corinthians, led by Portuguese Vítor Pereira, drew 0-0 on Wednesday against Flamengo, in the first leg of the Brazilian Cup final, played at the Neo Química Arena, in São Paulo.
The outsiders created more and better scoring chances, but the ‘null’ one persisted until the end, postponing the decisions for a week, in the ‘mythical’ Maracana.
Flamengo made the first two threats, from Gabigol, in the opening minute, and from Pedro, in minute 12, so that, at 30, the two players could combine, with the recently debuted in the canarinha almost to isolate the former Benfica player . .
In response to Corinthians, two triples arose, with two shots by Yuri Ribeiro, at 36 and 41 minutes, or the second annulled by an ‘in-extremis’ cut by Thiago Maia, and one by Renato Augusto, outside the area, which came out next to.
In added time, at minute 45+2, Gabigol and Thiago Maia tried to score from distance, but the veteran goalkeeper Cássio held both shots without problems.
The ‘Fla’ came back better and threatened with a direct free kick from De Arrascaeta (47) and two shots from Gabigol (52 and 58), the second at the entrance to the small area, stopped by Cassio’s instinct.
Renato Augusto made the first shot for the locals in the second half, in the 60th minute, but somewhat ‘shy’, especially when compared to the ‘shot’, from afar, by former Benfica player David Luiz at the crossbar, in the Minute 66, before shots also risky by Éverton Ribeiro and Gabigol, in minute 68.
Until the end, the outsiders were always closer to the opposing goal, showing more desire to win, but the ‘null’ did not fall apart, in a game that was still interrupted for a few minutes, after some lights went out.
In an unprecedented final, Flamengo (winner in 1990, 2006 and 2013), in eighth presence, and Corinthians (1995, 2002 and 2009), in seventh, seek to equal Palmeiras’ four trophies, which only lost to Grêmio (five) and Cruzeiro (six).
Source: TSF
