Five-time champs: São Paulo beat América-MG, lift U20 Copa do Brasil 🏆 | OneFootball

São Paulo maintained its dominance in the Under-20 Copa do Brasil by winning the fifth championship of the youth competition, with a tight and hard-fought 2-1 victory over América-MG, on the evening of Tuesday (9), at a packed Independência stadium in Belo Horizonte (MG).

The current champion of the Copa do Brasil, the Tricolor remains the most successful team in the tournament, now with five titles: 2015, 2016, 2018, 2024, and 2025.

And there was an unlikely hero in the victory. In a first half heavily affected by rain and the condition of the pitch, the excellent Nicolas opened the scoring in stoppage time. The Tricolor conceded the equalizer in the second half, but defender Isac headed firmly to score the title-winning goal for São Paulo.

Midfielder Pedro Ferreira and forwards Paulinho and Lucca, who were with the professionals under Hernán Crespo's command, traveled from Salvador directly to Belo Horizonte to strengthen Allan Barcellos' team, which adds another trophy to the Tricolor's youth collection.

LUCCA PUT ON A SHOW

Lucca, in fact, was one of the standout players of the final, with his trademark individual plays full of skill and dribbles. In one of the moves, the young star passed between two defenders, nutmegged another, and took a powerful shot, but a fourth defender appeared to block Lucca's shot. In the next play, Osório almost scored with a header.

At the 48th minute of the first half, a puddle of water provided a wonderful assist to the Tricolor. Nicolas took advantage of the ball stopping right in front of him at the edge of the area and struck with his left foot to open the scoring for São Paulo.

After the break, just 9 minutes in, goalkeeper João Pedro made an incredible mistake in the play's build-up, hesitated in the clearance, and handed the ball to the American rival. With an empty goal, the Minas Gerais team equalized.

THE UNLIKELY HERO

The Tricolor reacted shortly after, at the 23rd minute. Lucca took a dangerous free kick and defender number 3 Isac appeared alone to head the ball and put the Tricolor back in the lead. In the last play of the game, a low free kick from América grazed the Tricolor's post, but it was just the final scare before the referee's whistle ended the match.

End of the match and celebration for the Tricolor right in Minas Gerais. The under-20 team finishes the 2025 season as they did last year, with a national title. Now, in 2026, they aim to defend another title, the Copinha, also won this year.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.