SOCCER
Palmeiras go top as Endrick shines in win over Internacional
The 17-year-old forward scored again with a shot from the edge of the box, firing Palmeiras to the top of the Brasileirão standings.
Endrick was once again at his best in the victory that saw Palmeiras race to first place in the Brasileirão. The 17-year-old scored the second goal in the win over Internacional with a powerful left foot shot that smashed into the bottom corner of the goal, seeing the player get his fourth goal in his last four games. Such a high level of output in recent matches has been key for the São Paulo side as they keep their title hopes intact.
The future Real Madrid forward, with that effort, recorded his ninth goal in the Brasileirão in the 59th minute of the game; in the 64th minute he was taken off, with manager Ferreira opting to add fresh legs to the attack and maintain the high press. The youngster, who will arrive at Real Madrid next July, was allowed to relax on the bench for the rest of the game, no doubt already with his mind set on his first call-up with the Brazilian national team after being named in the squad by Copa Libertadores winning coach, Fernando Diniz.
Endrick follows in Neymar’s shoes
Endrick’s precocity continues to break records and with this goal he has become the only player aged 17 or younger to reach nine goals in the Brasileirão since 2009. The last player to achieve the same feat at such a young age was none other than Neymar, who, wearing the Santos shirt, scored 10 goals.
The number ‘9′, who recently reached 50 games with Palmeiras, will now travel from Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro where Brazil will hold their training sessions before making the journey to Barranquilla to face Colombia. After that they will return home to host Argentina on Tuesday 21st November.
Palmeiras welcomed Internacional with the pressure that bubbled following the devastating 3-0 loss to Flamengo, and they had to do so without suspended captain Gustavo Gómez. The opposition began the game strongly and generated several clear chances which could have given them the advantage in the game, were it not for poor finishing from Alan Patrick and Enner Valencia.
Endrick rested ahead of Brazil trip
The first serious warning from the team coached by Abel Ferreira was created by Endrick with a right-footed lightning bolt of a shot that crashed against the near post. Despite being in a tight position and using his weaker foot, Endrick still managed to pull off a ferociously powerful effort that set the tone for the evening. The performance as a whole from Endrick was positively different, with the player routinely popping up in uncharacteristic spaces in and around the box in order to create delightfully inventive passing moves with his teammates.
Before the break Palmeiras gained the advantage through Zé Rafael and with the lead on the scoreboard they were able to defend with a sense of calm control. It was an ideal situation to maintain the scoreline and wait to find the moment that would finish off the game. The chance came thanks to furious pressure from Veiga, who gave the ball to Endrick on the edge of the box: the forward did not hesitate, spinning his body around and thundering a low drive past the goalkeeper from distance.
With the end of the game closing in the ball fell to the Endrick substitute, Rony, who scored the third in the six-yard box thanks to a fantastic sequence of play by Vanderlan, who raced down the left wing and placed the ball at his feet with a pinpoint cross. The third goal in the game was an important one for a truly legendary Palmeiras player whose future has been the topic of much debate during the season so far. The future of Endrick, however, is under no doubt: he will play for Real Madrid.
- 21 Weverton
- 13 Luan Garcia (45')
- 26 Murilo Cerqueira
- 2 Marcos Rocha
- 8 Ze Rafael
- 27 Richard Rios (85')
- 12 Mayke
- 22 Joaquiín Piquerez Moreira
- 19 Breno Lopes (63')
- 9 Endrick (63')
- 23 Raphael Veiga (89')
- Substitutes
- 35 Fabinho (85')
- 42 Marcelo Lomba
- 40 Jhonatan
- 34 Kaiky Naves (45')
- 32 Gustavo García
- 14 Artur (89')
- 10 Rony (63')
- 37 Kevin
- 18 José López
- 6 Vanderlan (63')
- 30 Jailson
- 33 Rochet
- 16 Fabricio Bustos
- 29 Dalbert (32')
- 21 Igor Gomes
- 44 Vitão
- 11 Wanderson
- 30 Johnny (78')
- 10 Alan Patrick
- 20 Aránguiz (45')
- 27 Mauricio (78')
- 13 Enner Valencia (62')
- Substitutes
- 45 Lucca
- 17 Gustavo Campanharo
- 42 Gabriel Barros
- 1 Keiller
- 28 Pedro Henrique (78')
- 36 Thauan Lara
- 40 Rômulo (45')
- 9 Luiz Adriano (62')
- 23 Gabriel
- 14 Carlos De Pena (78')
- 22 Nicolás Hernández (32')
Substitutions
Nicolás Hernández (32', Dalbert), Rômulo (45', Charles Aránguiz), Kaiky Naves (45', Luan Garcia), Luiz Adriano (62', Enner Valencia), Rony (63', Endrick), Vanderlan (63', Breno Lopes), Carlos de Pena (78', Johnny Cardoso), Pedro Henrique (78', Maurício), Fabinho (85', Richard Ríos), Artur (89', Raphael Veiga)
Goals
1-0, 37': Ze Rafael, 2-0, 58': Endrick, 3-0, 87': Rony
Cards
Referee: Paulo Cezar Zanovelli Da Silva
VAR Referee: Wagner Reway, Cleriston Clay Barreto Rios
Aránguiz (13',Yellow) Murilo Cerqueira (36',Yellow) Alan Patrick (67',Yellow)
