LThe two fashionable technicians in Brazilian soccer, on the one hand. Abel Ferreira at Palmeiras, the Brazil coach and Fluminense coach, Fernando Diniz, on the other. A few meters, Endrick, the Brazilian jewel that Real Madrid expects for next year, start the match by pressing. He rubs shoulders, nothing more and nothing less than with Marcelo, one of the historical defenders of what will be his new club. Curious fight of generations in the temple of soccer, Maracan.
endrick returned to ownership after three games in a row without playing while Marcelo is recovering well from the psychological mark left by the fatal stomp on Luciano Sánchez in the Copa Libertadores.
Palmeiras’ next match in the top South American competition is what allowed the young 17-year-old striker to have a chance again. The ‘Verdo’ will play the second leg of the round of 16 on Wednesday, a much more important game for the aspirations of the São Paulo team, fourth in the Brasileiro, 12 points behind the leader, Botafogo, and one more game.
He began by pressing, looking for the ball with his own resources in the face of the scarcity of passes from his teammates. The Palmeiras system, focused on containing the dominance of Fluminense, did not help. It was a very physical game in which, at times, a disoriented Endrick was seen. Fluminense’s first goal, by Jhon Arias, from a penalty, complicated things for Palmeiras in the 14th minute. Until the break, Abel Ferreira’s men were ineffective and incapable of creating elaborate and dangerous plays.
After the break, Fernando Diniz’s team continued to play better and increased their lead in the 13th minute thanks to a shot from John Kennedy inside the box. Endrick had a single chance, headfirst, in a set piece play, which ended in nothing. Eight minutes later, at minute 20, he was substituted. Gustavo Gómez scored 2-1 in the final breath and Palmeiras put an end to a streak of two consecutive victories.
The atmosphere in the team after the game was mournful. For the defeat and for the expulsion of Abel Ferreira’s assistant, Joo Martins, who left the field saying that the game was “conditioned”. He did it in reference to the new function as coach of Fernando Diniz, a rival coach, who now also has a contract with the CBF. Nobody spoke in the mixed zone at the request of the club. Endrick left the stadium head down.
