Protests as São Paulo draw Ferroviária in Paulista U20 quarters | OneFootball

São Paulo drew 0-0 this Friday against Ferroviária in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Paulista Under-20 Championship. The match took place at Estádio Doutor Adail Nunes da Silva, in Taquaritinga. Although the nets didn’t move, the game was very lively, forcing both teams’ goalkeepers into action.

Match Situation

Now, the spot in the semifinals will be decided next Friday at CFA Laudo Natel, at 3 p.m. (Brasília time) in Cotia, with São Paulo as the home team. If there is another draw, the match will go to penalties.

Whoever advances will have their next opponent determined by the number of points accumulated in the Paulista Under-20. Still in contention, besides São Paulo and Ferroviária, are: EC São Bernardo, Santos, Guarani, Ponte Preta, Palmeiras, and Botafogo-SP.

Match Marked by Protests

The tense atmosphere behind the scenes of São Paulo’s main squad was reflected in the stands at Estádio Doutor Adail Nunes da Silva. Fans brought protest banners and displayed messages such as “Fora Casares.”

The protests gained momentum especially after Tricolor’s elimination in the Libertadores quarterfinals against LDU. Before defeating Fortaleza in the last round, the team had suffered four consecutive losses.

Facing a severe financial crisis, São Paulo has struggled to strengthen its squad and compete on equal footing with national powerhouses like Palmeiras and Flamengo, which has contributed to its recent failures in competitions.

Campaign in the Paulista Under-20

In the group stage of the tournament, São Paulo finished at the top of Group 3, with 35 points. Over 15 matches, the team secured 11 wins, drew twice, and suffered only two defeats.

In the knockout rounds, the team overcame Mauá and Oeste in home-and-away matches, without suffering a single defeat. Tricolor secured qualification with away draws and victories at CFA Laudo Natel, in Cotia.

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