48 years ago: Corinthians end title drought with 1977 Paulistão win

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Central do Timão

·13 October 2025

48 years ago: Corinthians end title drought with 1977 Paulistão win

By Vinícios Cotrim | Central do Timão Editorial Team

After a victory and a defeat in the first games of the finals against Ponte Preta, Corinthians went into the third game against Macaca determined to end the uncomfortable drought of 22 years, eight months, and six days without winning the Campeonato Paulista. Interestingly, the Fiel Torcida grew considerably during this period and, as usual, filled the Morumbi Stadium that night, on October 13, 1977.

The game started nervously, and just 16 minutes into the match, Rui Rei, the star of the Campinas team, was sent off after a discussion with referee Dulcídio Wanderley Boschillia, to the delight of the 93,000 Faithful present at Morumbi.

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Basílio, the hero of '77, the scorer of the title goal. Photo: Reproduction/Internet

The starting lineup for that match was: Tobias; Zé Maria, Moisés, Ademir, and Wladimir; Ruço, Basílio, and Luciano; Vaguinho, Geraldão, and Romeu.

After a first half with slight Corinthians dominance, the second half saw both teams being cautious and nervous, with few goal opportunities, given the importance of the match and the fear of letting the long-awaited title slip away. Corinthians played for a draw until the 36th minute of the second half when Zé Maria took a free kick from the right, Vaguinho hit the crossbar, and the ball fell to Wladimir, who headed it, only for Oscar to save it on the line. But on the rebound, Basílio struck, leaving no chance for goalkeeper Carlos, scoring one of the most important goals in Corinthians' history.

After the goal, euphoria took over the Fiel at Morumbi and throughout Brazil. On the field, even without Geraldão, who was sent off after a fight with Ponte Preta's Oscar, Timão held on until the final whistle, when the Bando de Loucos invaded the pitch and celebrated their first "liberation" alongside their heroes. Brandão was carried on the shoulders by the Corinthians fans, who knelt and ate the grass of the pitch. The celebration was so great that even the then club president, Vicente Matheus, lost his shoes.

The 1977 Paulistão victory is celebrated and praised by Corinthians to this day, even inspiring club uniforms launched by Nike in 2007, 2013, and 2017. Reports claim that this achievement might even be considered the greatest in the history of the Alvinegro.

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