São Paulo 1x0 Once Caldas

São Paulo FC had a great game yesterday against Once Caldas. Different from the first game, this time we won the match and played much better than before. São Paulo's supporters were present in a huge amount, about 51.000 people, the biggest crowd of the year.
The game started very good for us, attacking all the time, and putting a lot of pressure. Rogerio Ceni, our goal-keeper, didn't have too much work. In addition, when this half was about to end, about 40 minutes, Fernandinho scored a goal! This moment was fantastic, every person in the crowd was screaming and hugging each other. However, the second-half wasn't as good as the first one. Once Caldas startes to attack more, and we wasn't able to score another goal. Time seemed to be passing by very slow this half. But our defense, including our luck, was excellent and the opposing team didn't score, which means that the game finished SPFC 1x0 Once Caldas. This final score means that São Paulo finished the first phase in the first place of our group, which will lead us to play against the second-placed from another group. Nevertheless, SPFC is not yet playing so well to win this tournament, so lots of pratice and focus is going to be required in the following days.

picture from GLOBOESPORTE

São Paulo 2 x 3 Santos

The first game of the semi-finals from the Paulista League involving SPFC and Santos was very exciting. I went to the morumbi stadium expecting a difficult game. There were about 35.000 people, in which the big majority was supporting São Paulo. The game started good for our side, but unfortunately, in a very silly mistake, Santos scored their first goal. São Paulo, then, didn't react well to the situation; consequently, Santos scored again. The first-half finished SPFC 0 x 2 Santos, and also one of our attacking players received a red card for making 2 dangerous fauls. Summarizing, São Paulo was with one player less than Santos, and losing with a difference of two goal. Even though things seemed to be already lost, São Paulo showed it competence and right on the begging scored 2 goal ! One with Hernanes, and the other with Dagoberto. The game was now 2 x 2. All of our fans were screamming a lot, and SPFC started playing better, with "happiness". Unfortunately, when it was around 43 minutes of the second-half, almost finishing the game, Santos scored a third goal. One could see the sadness around Morumbi, it was weird because people wasn't angry, they're sort of sad, and disappoineted, in a way. Nevertheless, not everything is lost, we still have the second game, which is going to take place in Santos. It is going to be much harder, since the crowd will be basically of Santos' fans. But its possible.

Picture from GLOBOESPORTE

São Paulo 5 x 0 Botafogo

Since it was easter, not a lot of people went to watch SPFC playing agains Botafogo in Morumbi. However, those who were there, and even those who watched in TV liked a lot the game. SPFC was playing with all its players except for the strinker Washington and the middle-fielder Leo Lima. Surprisingly, São Paulo just scored the first goal in the very end of the first-half. This seemed to be a tough game, due to the fact that Botafogo's defense was very accurate and strong. Our players were having difficulties on getting close to the goal and Rogerio Ceni even lost a penalty kick. But at exaclty 45 minutes Marlos made a beautiful goal. The second-half started and the crowd were supporting a lot our team. Hernanes scored first at 14 minutes, and than Rodrigo Soulto at 22 minutes. Two minutes later, at 24, Junior Cesar scored, and by last Hernanes scored again at 36 minutes.

Now São Paulo is back in the third place of the state's tournament, which is leading our team towards the semi-finals! However, in my opinion, coach Ricardo Gomes should allow some players to rest and not play the following game, so they wouldn't be tired to the other competition. Since this one is almost sure that we will achieve the main goal, that is getting on the semi-finals.

Picture from GLOBOESPORTE