At 22′ Léo Lima had shot the ball plainly and nobody bothered him but Ceni made a howler, a basic mistake.

At half time the confusion showed up. The São Paulo FC’s players hadn’t stayed at locker room because of someone threw pepper gas at it.

At 2nd half Palmeiras was dangerous on the counter-attack and São Paulo FC preferred the long-ball game and their power in the air.

After André Dias had received the red card Wendel on the counter-attack passed to Valdívia that put it the back of the net.

Right after the goal Palestra Itália had a blackout around 15 minutes later restarted the match but the game ended 2-0.

Now in the final of Paulistão we’re gonna face Ponte Preta that we already won at Palestra Itália by 2-1.

HIGHLIGHTS

SE PALMEIRAS 2 x 0 SÃO PAULO FC
Palmeiras
Marcos;
E Granja, Gustavo, Henrique and Leandro;
Martinez, L Lima, Valdívia and D Souza (Wendel);
A Mineiro (Lenny) and Kléber (Denílson)
Coach: V Luxemburgo

São Paulo FC
Ceni;
A Silva, Miranda and A Dias;
Joílson (S Mota), J Wagner, F Santos, Hernanes and Júnior (Hugo);
Adriano and Dagoberto (Borges)
Coach: M Ramalho

Venue: Palestra Itália stadium
Referee: Wilson Seneme
Attendance: 27,680

Yeah! It’s right this sentence above. After 15 games playing unsteadily – win once, draw twice, loss once – Palmeiras with 4 wins straight and doesn’t defeat since Feb. 6th 0-3 Guaratinguetá.

Since 1997 Palmeiras doesn’t win the King Clash in State Championships last time was 1-0 goal scored by Viola.

São Paulo FC started well pressing Palmeiras. At 10′ São Paulo FC had a free-kick that Adriano Imperatore (Imperatrice for us) crossed the ball into the mixer Borges in illegal position disputed with São Marcos who socked it and Richarlyson (Bixarlyson for us) got the rebound shot it but the linesman already has rosen his arm.

At 38′ in a corner-kick Jorge Wágner crossed straight to the Adriano’s head and 0-1 for them.

At 44′ Kléber – who already played by São Paulo FC’s side – with a disillusioning dribble in Juninho shot like former players with category.

Now is our turn at 57′ in corner-kick Élder Granja crossed into the mixer Rogério Ceni pulled out of the goal and caught nothing Diego Souza headed it but it went above the wookwork.

At 70′ Adriano received pass in the right feinted Henrique and shot weakly São Marcos did his job.

At 76′ the game was balanced until Júnior – world champion 2002, several times champion inclusive by Palestra’s side – act like a young player has tackled Valdívia in penalty area. The referee unhesitating pointed in the direction of the penalty mark. Denílson with a lot of determination to revenge of old club scored it.

After 5 minutes another penalty-kick Juninho tackled Kléber and received red card. Now this time El Mago wanted put it in the back of the net and he did it.

At 85′ (i guess) Adriano shot and São Marcos made a great save remembering ‘99, ‘00, ‘01 and ‘02.

At 90 + 2′ Palmeiras scored the 3rd penalty goal Deigo Souza entered in the penalty area free and was tackled by Richarlyson in a dangerous way himself got the ball put it in penalty mark and scored it.

HIGHLIGHTS

SE PALMEIRAS 4 vs. 1 SÃO PAULO FC

Palmeiras
————–Marcos 6,5————-
E Granja 6–Gustavo 6,5–Henrique 6,5–Leandro 6,5
——–Wendel 5,5—–Léo Lima 7———
—Valdívia 8————Diego Souza 7—
——Kléber 7,5——–Alex Mieneiro 5,5—–
Coach: Vanderlei Luxemburgo 7

Subs.: Martinez 6,5(Wendel half-time), Denílson 6,5(Alex Mineiro 61′), Makelele 6(Kléber 83′)

São Paulo
——–Rogério Ceni 5,5———
Z Luís 5,5–A Dias 6–Juninho 0,5–Júnior 3
—–Hernanes 6—Richarlyson 4——
–Jorge Wagner 6—Carlos Alberto 4—
—Adriano 7,5——–Borges 6,5—–
Coach: Muricy Ramalho 5

Subs.: Joílson 4,5(C Alberto 54′), Aloísio 5,5(Júnior 77′)

(Notes according to Lance!, important sports newspaper)

I’m gonna ask you what do you think when your team is losing by 2-0 and your goalkeeper, capitain and hero is sent off the pitch ? My team will lose by 4, 5 or 6 goals.
No when you speak about Palmeiras.

Even we have a canticle:

Palmeiras é o time da virada / Palmeiras é o time do amor / ÊÊÊÊÊ

With guts and determination we changed the game after has started bad in game sufferred the goal – scored by Paulinho 16′ in a great play – and Marcos was sent off for kicking another player before the same player has kicked him and referee gave a penalty kick to Bragantino at 25′ that Nunes sent Diego Cavalieri the wrong way.

But our team got up and scored goals one at 36′ by Diego Souza then at 38′ César Gaúcho received a second yellow card for tackling Valdívia thereupon El Mago equalised the match. At 40′ Da Silva got a straight red card because he was the last man.

At 49′ Leandro put it in the back of the net with a clinical finish thenceforth we keep ball possession. Then the referee gave us a penalty kick (mistakenly) that Léo Lima lose it but at 77′ Valdívia received a pass feinted the goalkeeper passed to Denílson and with open goal put it in the back of the net and at injury time 90 + 1′ former Bétis’ attacker scored again.

BRAGANTINO 2 vs. 5 PALMEIRAS
Venue: Marcelo Stéfani stadium
Attendance: it wasn’t revealed
Referee: Paulo César de Oliveira

BRAGANTINO
…………………….Gléguer…………………………
D Silva………………Cris……………………..Hugo
Niander…C Gaúcho…Zéziel…A Gaspar…Paulinho
………….Nunes………………Malaquias…………
Coach: Marcelo Veiga

Subs.: Mário 45 + 1′ (Zéziel), Rubens 61′ (Nunes), Adriano 81′ (Malaquias)

PALMEIRAS
…………………….Marcos………………………..
E Granja……Gustavo…….Henrique…….Leandro
……………….Pierre……..Léo Lima………………
…Diego Souza…………………..Valdívia………..
…………Kléber…………….Alex Mineiro…………
Coach: Vanderlei Luxemburgo

Subs.: Diego Cavalieri 23′ (Alex Mineiro), Denílson 60′ (Kléber), Lenny 80′ (Valdívia)

On Thursday Palmeiras registered a new contract with Valdívia until December 31st 2009 previous contract was until July 31st.

Football director Genaro Marino said:

That maneuver was done for him to renew his work visa in Brazil.

Without work visa the contract lose validity and he could leave for free. As the work visa keep for 2 years. Palmeiras can to register El Mago until the end of 2009.

But there was a previous contract [as we say in Brazil "contrato de gaveta" translating literally "drawer's contract"] until 2011. However that document doesn’t have validity without work visa. So Palmeiras had to make a new contract registered at CBF [Brazilian Football Federation].