Chapter 82

The new season's São Paulo team has indeed become stronger. Compared to last year's national championship, they have added a playmaking core in Ricardinho and a versatile forward in Fabiano, who is becoming more and more mature.

More importantly, they have added a star player.

In this match, the star player started as the attacking midfielder.

Although he still hasn't scored or assisted, the team's operation in the first half was very smooth, and they had already taken a two-goal lead over Athletico Paranaense by halftime.

It seems they are really aiming for revenge.

The defending champions of the national championship were completely dominated by São Paulo in the first half.

Losing only two goals can be considered a good performance for them.

During the halftime break, the São Paulo players in the locker room seemed very relaxed, as if a three-game winning start to the new season was just around the corner.

Although there were still 45 minutes left in the second half, the atmosphere in the locker room was indeed very relaxed. The naturally lively Brazilian players even put on music, turning the away team's locker room into a carnival scene... They were swaying to the rhythm of the lively samba music, dancing the samba.

Baptista even invited the star player to dance with him.

The star player rolled his eyes: "I can't dance!"

Losing in the quarterfinals last season to Athletico Paranaense prevented São Paulo from competing for the final title. The team that ultimately faced Athletico Paranaense in the final was São Caetano, a dark horse. If it had been São Paulo, they might have been able to defeat São Caetano as well.

So they have been holding this grudge.

Now, leading Athletico Paranaense by two goals in the first half, they finally vented their pent-up frustration.

So their wild celebration during the halftime break was actually a way for them to vent their frustration.

But when the second half began, they quickly lost their smiles and couldn't dance anymore.

***

"Alex Mineiro!! Athletico Paranaense's 'Hurricane Killer'! This is his second goal of the match! It's unbelievable! Athletico Paranaense, who were trailing by two goals in the first half, have managed to level the score in the second half! 2-2!"

"Mineiro must have reminded São Paulo of the sad memories from last season's quarterfinals! It was his goal in the 80th minute that eliminated São Paulo! Now he has once again stepped up, saving Athletico Paranaense and humiliating São Paulo again!"

Accompanying the voices of the two commentators was the deafening cheers from the crowd at the Mario Celso Petraglia Stadium.

The cheers from over ten thousand Athletico Paranaense fans could rival those at the Morumbi Stadium.

"Damn it! Damn it!" São Paulo's head coach Oswaldo couldn't help but curse when he saw Alex Mineiro sprinting to celebrate his goal.

Leading by two goals in the first half, and now the situation has turned into this!

How could he not be angry?

During the halftime break, he was also very relaxed. He believed that as long as the team maintained their first-half performance, Athletico Paranaense would have no chance.

Not to mention, with the star player on the field, a two-goal lead for São Paulo was almost invincible. Opponents would be wary of the star player's speed and wouldn't dare to push forward aggressively.

But who would have thought that São Paulo would play so poorly in the second half?

Additionally, Athletico Paranaense's sudden and fierce counterattack caught São Paulo off guard.

São Paulo's players might have become too comfortable with the star player leading the attack, focusing on defensive counterattacks.

No one expected Athletico Paranaense's counterattack to be so decisive and swift. They seemed to care little about their own goal being breached by the star player, and they didn't even think about defending against him.

They were all-out attacking!

And they really did it!

In just five minutes, Athletico Paranaense's top scorer, Alex Mineiro, scored two goals, leveling the score!

Now, the entire Mario Celso Petraglia Stadium was filled with the cheers of jubilant Athletico Paranaense fans.

In stark contrast were the stunned São Paulo players.

They seemed unable to accept this reality.

"In the first half, Athletico Paranaense played like dogshit, and in the second half, it was São Paulo's turn to play like dogshit..." the sharp-tongued Bueno mercilessly criticized São Paulo's performance.

Of course, São Paulo's performance in the last 20 minutes did deserve such criticism.

But this wasn't a reason for São Paulo fans to accept another defeat to Athletico Paranaense.

Even if their team played poorly, they still hoped for a win.

Because the pain Athletico Paranaense inflicted on them in last year's national championship was too deep.

According to the rules of the Brazilian national championship that year, the top eight teams in the regular season faced off in a knockout round, with the quarterfinals being the first round.

And it was a one-match affair.

São Paulo was eliminated by Athletico Paranaense in the first round.

Being eliminated by an unknown team was a bitter pill for São Paulo fans to swallow!

They had been waiting for almost a year to take revenge!

This time, they had to win!

But how?

Athletico Paranaense, having just leveled the score, were surely in high spirits, and their goals had ignited the atmosphere at the stadium. São Paulo, playing away, faced a very unfavorable situation...

What to do?

Watching the live broadcast on TV, Correia couldn't help but shout: "Put Kaka on! Damn coach!"

***

Oswaldo was also considering whether to bring Kaka on.

But if Kaka came on, would he have to take the star player off?

The star player, although not as impressive as in the first match, still had his speed and breakthroughs as powerful weapons.

And as a rookie, he often had some surprising performances.

In this situation, Oswaldo was more hopeful about the star player than bringing on Kaka...

He didn't want to take the star player off, but he couldn't keep Kaka on the bench. Otherwise, if they didn't win this match, he knew he would face a barrage of criticism from the media tomorrow.

Should he put both of them on the field at the same time?

Oswaldo looked at the pitch.

The only time these two had been on the field together was in the second leg of the Rio-São Paulo final.

At that time, the situation for São Paulo was extremely unfavorable, so he took a risk and brought the star player on, allowing Kaka and the star player to coexist on the field.

Unexpectedly, this turned the tide for São Paulo, becoming a turning point in the match.

Kaka and the star player scored in succession, helping São Paulo win 2-0 away against Corinthians and lift the Rio-São Paulo championship trophy.

So this time... could it be the same?

Oswaldo made his decision. He asked Mauro to call Kaka back from his warm-up, preparing to bring him on.

He was not willing to accept a draw. Although he wasn't with São Paulo last year, so their defeat wasn't his responsibility, and he didn't need to seek revenge.

But pursuing victory is the mindset every qualified head coach should have.

São Paulo had started the season with two consecutive wins, and he naturally wanted to pursue three, four, five... more wins.

***

Seeing his team concede two goals in five minutes, the star player was still in shock. He was gritting his teeth, showing his dissatisfaction, when he saw Kaka being instructed by head coach Oswaldo on the sidelines.

As a rookie, he had plenty of experience coming on as a substitute, so he immediately realized that the coach was planning to bring Kaka on.

Damn... Is this because he's dissatisfied with my performance?

Actually, the star player was also dissatisfied with his own performance, as he hadn't scored or assisted in nearly two matches. Just playing for the appearance fee in each match was definitely not his goal...

But being dissatisfied with himself didn't mean he thought he should be taken off to make way for Kaka.

Regardless of his relationship with Kaka, he felt he could still make a difference if given more time.

When Athletico Paranaense were desperately trying to level the score, he didn't have many good opportunities. But he realized that this team wouldn't be content with a draw at home, especially after coming back from a two-goal deficit.

So in the next phase of the match, Athletico Paranaense would continue to attack until they took the lead.

And that would be his opportunity!

If he was taken off now, he would feel very disappointed!

***

"Kaka, who was warming up on the sidelines, has been called back to the bench. It looks like Oswaldo is finally going to bring Kaka on! In a difficult situation for the team, he has remembered Kaka. This will be Kaka's longest appearance of the new season, and it remains to be seen whether he can bring about a change for the team..."

On TV, commentator Cafure was speaking.

The young girl Correia cheered: "Yeah! Well done! This should have been done earlier! Give Kaka more time, and he won't let you down! Kaka! Kaka, go for it!!"

Sitting on the sofa, her father Choi Hao was worried: "Kaka is coming on? That means the star player will be taken off?"

Correia heard her father's words and paused her cheering. She then spread her hands: "There's nothing we can do. Who would have thought his performance would be so poor? No goals, no assists!"

***

Almost everyone thought that Kaka coming on would mean the star player being taken off.

Even Kaka himself thought so.

But when he heard what head coach Oswaldo said, he was surprised: "I'm playing with the star player?!"

Oswaldo nodded: "Yes, you're not replacing him, but playing alongside him to attack Athletico Paranaense's goal. After leveling the score, Athletico Paranaense will continue to attack, trying to win the match. Their ambition has been ignited, having come back from a two-goal deficit..."

What he said was not far off from what the star player had realized on his own. Who could still say the star player was a clueless rookie?

"…So what we need to do is simple: defend and counterattack. When we have the opportunity to attack, you and the star player, whoever it is, should charge forward and use your speed to pierce their defense!"

Oswaldo said this, and punched his palm.