3-1: El Goianiense, about to make history

The Atlético Goianensepenultimate in the standings in the Brazilian League and changed coaches this week, won this Thursday 3-1 at São Paulo in the first leg of the semifinals of the Copa Sudamericana and put himself in a comfortable position to reach the final of the tournament.

Goianiense prevailed with goals from Jorginho, Shaylon and Leo Pereira and thanks to the dismissal suffered by the Paulistas in the first half. Next Thursday they only need a draw in the second leg to guarantee classification which is unprecedented in their history.

If he advances, he will have to face the winner of the duel between Independiente del Valle and Melgar. The Ecuadorians lead after beating the Peruvians 3-0 on Wednesday.

Sao Paulo, trying to regain the leading role lost in the Brazilian League in South America, started better, continued to attack and had the first dangerous play with a shot by Reinaldo that went wide after seven minutes .

Despite the dominance of São Paulo’s players, Goianiense, facing a serious crisis and this week sacked its coach for poor results, surprised in the 11th minute with a counterattack goal. The era of coach Eduardo Baptista would not have started.

Goal play for his new team was started by Dudu, who advanced from the right, and lifted the ball into the area, where Jorginho appeared to finish and open the scoring.

Exporter Rogerio Ceni’s team struggled to react, but maintained their dominance and equalized in the 23rd minute after Luciano, with a header, headed Rodrigo Néstor’s ball into the goal. The goal confirmed Luciano as second in the ranking of South American scorers, with 5 goals.

Sao Paulo continued to press and looked poised to make a comeback but midfielder Igor Gomes was sent off after 39 minutes after receiving a second yellow card for a violent tackle. With one man less on the pitch, the São Paulo team eased the pressure in the final minutes as they composed themselves.

Not wanting to lose time, a minute before the end of the first half, Rogerio Ceni changed his defense again as Welinton replaced Reinaldo and Patrick with Venezuelan Nahuel Ferraresi.

With the numerical advantage, Goianiense went on the attack for the second half and had several chances in the first ten minutes until Shaylon, who replaced Baralhas after the break, put the hosts ahead. Shaylon, from the ground, only had to push a ball past goalkeeper Jandrei and defender Diego Costa.

Due to the lack of numbers and the scoreboard, Rogerio Ceni was once again forced to change his team and sent on the field Uruguayan midfielder Gabriel Neves and striker Marcos Guilherme.

The changes did not work and Goianiense not only maintained the dominance but extended the score in the 78th minute with a great goal from Leo Pereira, who came on a few minutes earlier and starred alone in a counterattack from the left where he left towards Diego Costa and beat Jandrei.

São Paulo fans, who started the game by booing Igor Gomes for his irregularity, ended it with a loud protest against goalkeeper Jandrei, whom they blamed for the defeat.

DATA SHEET

3 – Athletico Goianiense: Renan; Dudu (m.46, Hayner), Wánderson, Klaus, Jefferson (m.66, Arthur Henrique); Gabriel Baralhas (m.46, Shaylon), Marlon Freitas, Edson Fernando (m.85, Rhaldney), Jorginho; Wellington Rato (m.72, Leo Pereira) and Churín
Instructor: Eduardo Baptista
1 – São Paulo: Jandrei; Diego Costa, Nahuel Ferraresi (m.45, Patryck), Leo, Igor Vinicius; Pablo Maia (m.60, Gabriel Neves), Igor Gomes, Rodrigo Nestor (m.79, Alisson), Reinaldo (m.45, Welington); Luciano (m.60, Marcos Guilherme) and Jonathan Calleri
Coach: Rogerio Ceni
The objectives: 1-0, Jorginho (m. 11); 1-1, Luciano (d. 23); 2-1, Shaylon (d. 56); 3-1, Leo Pereira (d. 78)
Referee: Venezuelan Jesús Valenzuela dismissed Igor Gomes and advised Wanderson, Dudu, Edson Fernando, Neves and Igor Vinicius
Incidents: first leg of the semifinals of the South American Cup played at the Serra Dourada stadium in the Brazilian city of Goiania before 33,047 spectators