Unseen hero from the bench tilts the game for Palmeiras at Fla | OneFootball

Paulinho settled the contest in the fifth minute of second half stoppage time with a left-footed finish, as Palmeiras won 3-0 at Flamengo. The substitute's cameo swung a heavyweight fixture towards the visitors.

Introduced for the closing stages, the substitute immediately offered direct runs and drew fouls as Verdão pushed Flamengo back, pinning Mengão inside their own half.

He then capped a sweeping break, arriving onto Jefté's square pass to guide a calm finish into the bottom left, the decisive touch that closed out a commanding away display.

In nine minutes he produced one attempt, the goal, completed nine of nine passes, won possession three times, was fouled twice and beat his marker once. Those numbers underlined how his fresh energy and security on the ball steadied Palmeiras in the final moments.

His movement between the lines stretched Fla's back line, and his timing on transitions kept spaces open, allowing Porco to manage the finale without alarm.

Verdão host Junior in the Libertadores next. Fla welcome Cusco in the same competition.