Prass and Gabriel Jesus celebrate 10 years since Palmeiras’ cup win 🏆 | OneFootball

Palmeiras celebrates, this Tuesday, ten years since winning their third Copa do Brasil title. Key figures from that year, former goalkeeper Fernando Prass, who scored the title-winning goal, and forward Gabriel Jesus, the breakout star of 2015, celebrated the anniversary of the first title at Allianz Parque.

The team, led by coach Marcelo Oliveira at the time, defeated Santos on penalties to lift the trophy. First, they lost the first leg 1-0 at Vila Belmiro, then won 2-1 at Allianz Parque. In the penalty shootout, they prevailed 4-3.

Gabriel Jesus wins his first title

The revelation of that year’s Brazilian Championship, Gabriel Jesus played in nine of the 13 matches of that campaign and scored three goals. Against ASA de Arapiraca, he netted his first professional goal and took the team to the round of 16.

“It feels like it was yesterday, winning the 2015 Copa do Brasil, which meant so much to me and to my growth as a football player. It was the year I moved up to the professional squad, with so many high-level athletes, incredible players who helped me a lot at the start. The Copa do Brasil was very positive for Palmeiras and for my career,” said Gabriel Jesus.

“That’s where it all began, the kickoff of my career. It was my first title as a professional. It was a year of growth, of maturing. I’m really happy to look back after these ten years and have so many memories of that achievement. Allianz Parque is a huge stage, I was very happy there. For me, the most memorable game was the final. Prass scoring the title-winning goal, Dudu scoring both goals in the match,” the forward continued.

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Gabriel Jesus suffered a shoulder injury in the first leg of the final. He played through the pain in the second match, but had to be substituted before halftime, making way for Rafael Marques.

“Unfortunately, I injured my shoulder in the first match and in the second I tried, but couldn’t play the whole game. What remains is the title, and I believe it was the starting point for this huge comeback that Palmeiras began and is now reaping the rewards of,” Jesus concluded.

Prass, the hero of the title

After witnessing Palmeiras’ entire overhaul, after Serie B and an almost relegation in 2014, Fernando Prass wrote his name in Verdão’s history by converting the final penalty to secure the championship. Before that, he had already saved one from Santos.

“It’s always great to talk about that title from December 2, 2015. Sometimes people might focus on the fact that I took the last penalty, that I ended the shootout, but for me, this title goes far beyond all of that,” he declared.

“I arrived at Palmeiras at the end of 2012, went through the whole restructuring, was there for the opening of Allianz Parque. This title is symbolic for being the first at Allianz Parque and of the rebuilding, a turning point for Palmeiras. In the last ten years, the club has won countless titles, but that Copa do Brasil was the starting point for this victorious era. I’m very happy to have been part of it and to have lived through that magical moment,” he continued.

With that title, Verdão, who had already won the tournament in 1998 and 2012, secured their third. Later, they won another in 2020 and are currently four-time champions.

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