Carlos Miguel saves penalty, Palmeiras lead Novorizontino | OneFootball

Palmeiras took the lead in the Campeonato Paulista final and defeated Novorizontino by 1-0 on Wednesday night, in the first leg of the final, held at Arena Crefisa Barueri, in Barueri (SP). Flaco López scored the only goal of the match, which also featured a penalty save by Carlos Miguel.

Match Situation

With this result, Verdão can play for a draw in the return match, which takes place on Sunday, starting at 8:30 PM (Brasília time), at Estádio Jorge Ismael de Biasi, in Novo Horizonte (SP).

Any draw or another victory for Palmeiras secures the title for Abel Ferreira's team. Meanwhile, if Novorizontino wins by one goal, the decision goes to penalties. To claim the trophy, Tigre do Vale needs at least a 2-0 win.

📋 Match Summary

🟢⚪ PALMEIRAS 1 x 0 NOVORIZONTINO 🟡⚫ 🏆 Competition: Campeonato Paulista (Final, first leg) 🏟️ Location: Arena Crefisa Barueri, in Barueri (SP) 📅 Date: March 4, 2026 (Wednesday) ⏰ Time: 8 PM (Brasília time) 👥 Attendance: 26,802 fans 💰 Revenue: R$ 1,865,550.00 🟨 Yellow cards: João Martins, Mauricio, and Jhon Arias (Palmeiras); Alvariño, Dantas, Léo Naldi, and Jordi (Novorizontino) 🟥 Red cards: None

Refereeing

Goal

⚽ Flaco López, at 34′ of the 1st half (Palmeiras)

🟢⚪ Palmeiras

Carlos Miguel; Khellven, Gustavo Gómez, Murilo, and Piquerez; Marlon Freitas, Andreas Pereira (Lucas Evangelista), Allan (Jhon Arias), and Mauricio (Felipe Anderson); Ramón Sosa (Vitor Roque) and Flaco López. Coach: Abel Ferreira

🟡⚫ Novorizontino

Jordi; Alvariño (Alemão), Dantas, Patrick, and Mayk; Luís Oyama, Léo Naldi, and Juninho (Titi Ortiz); Matheus Bianqui (Castrillón), Vinicius Paiva (Tavinho), and Robson. Coach: Enderson Moreira

How was the game?

First Half

Palmeiras and Novorizontino had a tight first half. The home team had more ball possession, while the visitors tried to threaten on counterattacks and set-piece opportunities. Tigre do Vale came close with Léo Naldi, who shot weakly from the edge of the area, but Carlos Miguel saved comfortably.

Palmeiras' best chance came shortly after: Piquerez advanced on the left and found Mauricio in the area. The number 18 crossed into the area looking for Allan, but Mayk cleared it right in front of the goal. Flaco López opened the scoring for Palmeiras at 34 minutes. Marlon Freitas launched the ball into the area, Sosa controlled it, and set it up for Flaco López, who shot into the corner past Jordi, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.

Four minutes later, Flaco set up Allan one-on-one with the goalkeeper, and the number 40 hit the left post. The Argentine tried on the rebound but mishit and sent it wide. At 42, Novorizontino capitalized on Andreas Pereira's mistake in ball distribution, Robson received it in the area, missed, and Juninho couldn't complete the follow-up, wasting the chance to equalize.

Subsequently, Andreas lost the ball again, Vinicius Paiva invaded the area and was fouled in a challenge with Gómez and Marlon Freitas. On the penalty, Robson shot down the middle, and Carlos Miguel saved. In stoppage time, Andreas sent a header to Murilo, but the defender headed wide, missing the chance for a second goal.

Second Half

Just three minutes in, Marlon Freitas tried a shot from the edge of the area, but it wasn't very dangerous. Palmeiras scored a second goal at six minutes, but it was ruled out for offside. Piquerez took a free-kick from the left and sent the ball into the area. Gustavo Gómez headed it, the goalkeeper rebounded, and the defender put it in the net. However, VAR caught the captain in an offside position.

Verdão continued to seek a second goal and troubled Novorizontino's defense. At 16, Piquerez crossed to Sosa, but Jordi anticipated and made the save. Shortly after, Jhon Arias received it at the edge of the area, shot at goal, and sent it over the crossbar. Khellven posed a threat at 26. Flaco López controlled it in the area and passed to the fullback, who shot at the goalkeeper.

At 30, Novorizontino had a chance from a set-piece. Titi Ortiz took a free-kick directly into the area, far from Palmeiras' goal. About ten minutes later, Ortiz took a corner kick that worried Palmeiras' defense. Verdão pressed until the end but finished the first game with only a one-goal advantage.

Details of the Return Match

Match: Novorizontino vs. Palmeiras Competition: Campeonato Paulista (Final, second leg) Date and Time: March 8, 2026 (Sunday), at 8:30 PM (Brasília time) Location: Estádio Dr. Jorge Ismael de Biasi, in Novo Horizonte (SP)

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