Corinthians secured a vital victory on Sunday, defeating São Paulo 3-2 in a highly entertaining classic at Neo Química Arena, as part of the 15th round of the Brazilian Serie A. After a balanced first half, the home side surged ahead in the second period with goals from Raniele, Matheuzinho, and Breno Bidon. Luciano pulled one back for São Paulo, and an own goal from Matheuzinho added to the Tricolor’s tally.
The win lifted Corinthians to 18 points, while São Paulo remained stuck on 24, missing the chance to close the gap on the league leaders.
Despite the cold and rainy weather in Itaquera, the derby was heated from the start, especially in the first half. The opening 45 minutes ended in a mass brawl, forcing referee Anderson Daronco to calm tensions and hand out yellow cards.
The trouble began when Luciano equalized in the 40th minute. The São Paulo No. 10 received a pass from Bobadilla, who had intercepted Raniele during a Corinthians buildup, and slotted the ball home. During the celebration, Luciano ran to the corner flag but refrained from kicking it, as he had done in the past.
As other São Paulo players joined in the celebration, Calleri was struck on the hand by a pair of glasses and an electronic cigarette thrown from the stands. The No. 9 fell to the ground, clutching his head, and when Matheus Bidu tried to help him up, a scuffle ensued. After several minutes of pushing and shoving, order was restored. Daronco issued yellow cards but did not restart the game immediately.
The VAR reviewed footage of a possible obscene gesture by Bobadilla. The on-field official examined the images and concluded the Paraguayan had not touched his genitals, so no red card was given. Seven minutes of stoppage time were added due to the delay, which actually lasted much longer.
If the end of the half was fiery, the gameplay was equally intense. It was not a foul-heavy period; rather, Corinthians effectively exploited the midfield with Rodrigo Garro and André Carrillo dictating play, while São Paulo relied on the pace of their wingers to create chances against Hugo Souza in goal.
The first goal came in the 16th minute from a corner kick. Raniele rose highest to head the ball past Rafael at the near post. São Paulo players protested a push on Luciano, but Daronco waved it off.
The second half promised more of the same technical and tactical quality, but it began with a delay because Corinthians fans threw paper onto the pitch, forcing staff to clear it. The usual 15-minute halftime break stretched to 23.
When the match resumed, both teams fielded the same lineups and displayed the same determination. Matheuzinho quickly restored Corinthians’ lead with a brilliant strike. After a one-two with Carrillo that left Ferreira on the ground, the full-back unleashed a beautiful shot from the edge of the area that nestled into the net.
The goal exposed São Paulo’s defensive weakness in midfield. A third goal soon followed. Rodrigo Garro received the ball from Matheus Bidu and had all the time he needed to advance and find Breno Bidon at the edge of the box. The No. 7 calmly controlled, adjusted, and slotted the ball home.
The coaching staff of Roger Machado will have plenty to analyze after this defeat, while Corinthians will take heart from the performance but know their relegation fight is far from over.
