Santo Dérbi: Marcos hailed as Felipão’s atomic bomb | OneFootball

The 1999 Copa Libertadores placed Palmeiras and Corinthians in the same group alongside Olimpia and Cerro Porteño. Palmeiras opened with a Dérbi that Marcos watched from the bench, months before he became central to the campaign.

After three rounds, with wins over Corinthians and Cerro and defeat to Olimpia, Velloso suffered a training injury. According to Nosso Palestra, goalkeeping coach Carlos Pracidelli told Luiz Felipe Scolari that, with the starter out long term, Marcos was a game-changing option and merited the chance ahead of the experienced Sérgio, even in the Libertadores.

Scolari took the view on board and picked Marcos for the next Dérbi. He noted that while Sérgio and youngster Marcelo Moreira were in contention, Marcão had stood out since 1998 in the Copa Mercosul.

Sponsor Parmalat asked if a new first-choice goalkeeper was needed for the run-in, but Scolari said no replacement would be sought, which surprised directors given the injury. Marcos then played the next three group matches, Palmeiras progressed, eliminated Vasco in the round of 16, and were paired with Corinthians again.

On 5 May 1999, the quarter-final first leg became a landmark as Marcos produced an immaculate display in a 2-0 win. In the return, he saved Vampeta’s penalty, Dinei missed, and Palmeiras advanced to meet River Plate. Paulo Vinícius Coelho later underlined that moment, and Oséas recalled that he and Rogério scored in the victory as São Marcos was born.

Source: Nosso Palestra

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