Luiz Fernando brace as Corinthians thrash América-MG in Sub-20 opener

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Central do Timão

·21 de febrero de 2026

Luiz Fernando brace as Corinthians thrash América-MG in Sub-20 opener

By Fabio Luigi, at Parque São Jorge / Central do Timão Editorial Team

On the afternoon of this Saturday (21st), Corinthians hosted América-MG at Estádio Alfredo Schürig, Fazendinha, for the first round of the Brazilian Under-20 Championship and won by a score of 4-0. The goals for the Alvinegro were scored by forward Luiz Fernando (twice), defender Lorenzo, and an own goal, respectively. The result already puts the Corinthians team among the top positions with three points earned.

Coach William Batista lined up the following team to start the match: Gustavo Milani; João Vitor ‘Jacaré’, Lorenzo (Yago Melo), Iago Machado, and Pires (Levy Dias); Caraguá (Vitinho Dourado), Luiz Eduardo (Yago Gonçalves), and Gui Amorim; Nicollas, Luiz Fernando (Guilherme Pellgrin), and Luiz Fábio ‘Favela (Nicolas Araújo)’.

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Photo: Rodrigo Oliveira/Central do Timão

The bench had the following options: Pietro, Molina, Yago Melo, José Antônio, Levy Dias, Vitinho, Yago Kauã, Pedro Thomas, Nicolas Araújo, Drude, Cristian Oliviera, and Guilherme Pellegrin.

América-MG Lineup

Coach Eduardo Guadagnucci started the match with: Ítalo, Kappel, Luis Henrique, Thalysson, and Zanon; Gabriel Silva, Otávio, Júlio; Kaique Zizero, Pedro Castro, and Gustavo Correa. The bench included: Gabriel Sena, Felipe Dahora, Gabriel Santos, Gabruelo, Murilo, Pedro Rocha, Pedro Giovane, Léo Aquino, and Caio Derek.

Refereeing

The referee was Fagson Junior dos Santos Silva, assisted by Leandra Aires Cossette and Gabriel Rodrigues Santos. The fourth official was Gabriel Furlan.

Next Match

After facing América at home in the Under-20 Brasileirão, Corinthians will return to the pitch next Thursday (26th), at 3pm (Brasília time), to face Bahia at Cidade Tricolor (Evaristo Macedo Training Center), for the second round of the national competition.

First Half

The first minutes of the match between Corinthians and América-MG saw the Sons of the Land pressing the Minas Gerais team's ball exit. After almost three minutes, the Minas team built an offensive play on the left, but the ball went out over the end line. Soon after, Pires received the ball on the left end line and crossed, but the opposing defense cleared it.

Then, América-MG responded with a counterattack, their number 9 received a deep pass and Lorenzo covered to send it out for a corner. On the rehearsed set piece, the Corinthians defense cleared. After six minutes, the match was scrappy, with the Alvinegro team being more objective in the attacking field, but still not creating many chances.

At almost seven minutes, midfielder Gui Amorim launched Luiz Fábio deep on the right, he won the battle on the sideline and played in Luizinho. Number 11, however, crossed straight out over the end line. At 10 minutes, América's right-back received the ball on the end line and crossed dangerously into the box, and the Corinthians defense cleared with Iago Machado.

With 15 minutes played, both teams tried to impose their game strategies but were inefficient in attack, missing many passes. Later, Corinthians built a play through the middle. Pires received on the left, passed to Gui Amorim, who found Nicollas. The winger, however, couldn't finish as he wanted and the goalkeeper collected the ball on the ground.

At 17 minutes, Luiz Eduardo received on the left and, improvising, played to Nicollas on the left wing. Number 7 was fouled. On the free kick, Gui Amorim curled it in and the América-MG goalkeeper punched it away. Next, Gui Amorim again received in the midfield, dribbled past two markers, and shot from distance, close to the goal!

Right after, Corinthians built a play on the left with Pires, who played inside to Luiz Fernando. Number 11, first touch, played in Luiz Fábio, who shot across goal, wide. At 22 minutes, Luiz Fernando and Jacaré combined on the right, number 2 crossed towards Luiz Eduardo, but the América-MG defense cleared.

At 25 minutes, América-MG almost opened the scoring after a long ball in behind, and their player tried to chip Gustavo Milani, but the ball went over the goal. Corinthians responded right after with a shot from Luiz Fernando from outside the box, but the América-MG goalkeeper saved. At 30 minutes of the first half, the Alvinegro was superior in the match, controlling possession, but not effective in finishing.

América-MG, in turn, had a strategy of playing on the counterattack, exploiting long balls, but goalkeeper Gustavo Milani, alert, would come off his line to anticipate plays if the ball got past the two defenders. At 32, midfielder Luiz Eduardo played back to Gustavo Milani, who bravely dribbled past the opposing striker.

Soon after, Nicollas received on the left wing and crossed into the box, but the defense cleared. Then, América shot from the edge of the box, wide. At 38 minutes, Nicollas received a deep pass from Luiz Eduardo and was brought down inside the box. Penalty awarded! On the kick, Luiz Fernando sent the goalkeeper the wrong way and opened the scoring for Timão!

After opening the scoring, Corinthians maintained control of the match and kept looking for offensive actions. América-MG threatened from a corner kick, but Gustavo Milani punched it away. When the clock hit 45 minutes, three minutes were added. At 48, end of the first half: Corinthians 1 x 0 América-MG.

Corinthians was superior, even without requiring many saves from the América-MG goalkeeper, but had offensive volume. The Minas team, on the other hand, was not very creative in attack and used many long balls to try to surprise the Alvinegro, but without success.

Second Half

To start the second half, coach William Batista made no changes. The first minutes of the second half saw América-MG trying to press higher in Corinthians' defensive half. However, it was the Alvinegro who threatened first. In the very first minute, Luiz Fernando hit a free kick off the crossbar!

In the next play, Corinthians pressed América-MG's ball exit. Midfielder Caraguá stole the ball at the edge of the box and simply laid it off for Luiz Fernando, who once again found the back of the net! Score: Corinthians 2 x 0 América-MG! At seven minutes, Favela was played in deep, dribbled the goalkeeper, but lost the timing when finishing on goal.

Just like in the first 45 minutes, Corinthians started the second half pressing América-MG's ball exit and pinning the opponent back. At 10 minutes, Nicollas made a play on the left and played it to the top of the box, where Jacaré shot and the goalkeeper saved; on the rebound, Luiz Fernando put it in the net, but was offside.

At 15 minutes, Corinthians built a play through the middle with Gui Amorim, who played in Luiz Eduardo. Number 8 received, set up on his right foot, and shot firmly at the América-MG goalkeeper. Soon after, Favela was played in on the right wing, went at his marker, but pushed the ball too far and lost the chance to score the third.

At 18 minutes, Luiz Eduardo took a corner from the right and the América-MG goalkeeper punched it away. At 19, the first two changes for Corinthians: left-back Pires and winger Luiz Fernando came off for center-back Levy Dias and right-back/right winger Guilherme Pellegrin. Next, Nicollas, on the left wing, shot into the side netting. Then, Gui Amorim shot with a deflection, out for a corner.

After a corner from the left, Luiz Fábio flicked it at the near post, the ball went through everyone and fell to Pellegrin, who set up defender Lorenzo. Number 3 just headed it into the back of the net! It's the third goal for Corinthians! Right after, Corinthians stole the ball from América's exit and Nicollas shot hard, just wide!

At 27 minutes, three more changes for Corinthians: Luiz Eduardo, Luiz Fábio, and Lorenzo came off for Yago, Nicolas Araújo, and Yago Melo. Heading into the final stretch of the match, Corinthians just managed the game, circulating the ball mainly in the defensive half, while América-MG could hardly trouble the Corinthians team.

At 37 minutes, Iago Machado stole the ball in midfield and Gui Amorim was played in, he carried it, passed to Nicolas Araújo on the left. Number 20 crossed and Pellegrin almost finished it into the net! Number 23 picked up the rebound, passed to Nicollas who, first time, shot with a deflection off Amorim, and the América-MG goalkeeper made a great save and pushed it out for a corner!

In the following minutes, Corinthians kept imposing themselves. The Alvinegro built an attack from the back with Iago Melo, who played in Jacaré, who played in Pellegrin, who returned it to number 2. Jacaré surged forward and passed again to Pellegrin. Number 23 crossed low and Nicollas almost finished into the net. On the right corner taken by Vitinho Dourado, América-MG scored an own goal! Score: Corinthians 4 x 0 América-MG!

Shortly before the goal, midfielder Caraguá left the pitch for midfielder Vitinho Dourado. When the clock hit 45 minutes, the referee added four minutes! At 49, end of the match! Corinthians 4 x 0 América-MG!

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