From Triumph to Tragedy: The Chapecoense Story by Steven Bell

Author:Steven Bell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pitch Publishing
Published: 2019-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

12

O Retorno

The return of the Brasileiro finally brought some futebol pain relief from the horror of the Copa do Mundo.

On 19 August, 43,000 fans were in attendance at the Estádio do Morumbi; home of Série A heavyweights São Paulo. They were all hoping to catch a glimpse of a returning hero.

For the home supporters, it was the legendary Kaká, who had returned to the club where he started his career before going on to conquer European football. In his outstanding career, he had won the World Cup in 2002 with the Canarinhos and multiple league titles in various countries. In 2007, whilst playing for AC Milan, Kaká won the European Champions League and the individual honours of FIFA World Player of the Year and the illustrious Ballon d’Or. He was going to spend his twilight years playing in American Major League Soccer for Orlando City, a franchise club yet to make their debut. Whilst awaiting the start of the next campaign in the USA, Kaká had romantically signed a contract to play the remainder of the Brasileiro season with his beloved São Paulo.

For the away supporters, it was the one and only Bruno Rangel, who would make his first appearance in Série A at the age of 32 and pull on the green shirt of Chape for the first time in eight months.

Celso Rodrígues again deployed them in the typical defensive way, knowing they were against technically superior individuals and a team near the top of the standings. But the team contained the likes of Danilo in goal as well as Neném and Rangel in a lineup that felt much more akin with the Big Green the fans knew and loved.

São Paulo had ten attempts at goal to the three of Chape, ten corner kicks to the five of the away team and 63 per cent possession of the ball. But in true mastery of the Era Parreira tactics and inspired by their own returning hero, the Big Green won 1–0: their first away win in Série A.

Chape continued their tour of the giants of the state of São Paulo seven days later when they visited sixth-placed Santos at the Estádio Vila Belmiro.

During the 1960s, Santos were regarded as the Harlem Globetrotters of football. They had a host of the legendary skilful players who were representing Brazil during their golden era, including the greatest player of all time: Pelé. They dominated Brazilian, South American and world club football. Known as the Santásticos, they were in demand worldwide and became globetrotters in their own right, travelling far and wide to perform in exhibition matches. On one occasion, a war in Africa was stopped so that the two sides could watch Pelé and his team-mates perform O Jogo Bonito.

In the decades since, with a much smaller stadium and budget, Santos had been overtaken by many of the other major Série A clubs. But they had brought through Neymar Jr. and the riches created from his sale to Barcelona just one year earlier in the summer of 2013 had rejuvenated the club and strengthened the squad.

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