30/05/00, Morumbi, São Paulo
Billed as the "Game of the Century", this taut and gripping goalfest may not have lived up to it's billing but was certainly one of the best games of recent times. Both teams were fairly evenly matched, and in the end it was a mixture of luck and hard work which gave the home team the win.
Palmeiras took the initiative, a shot from Euller forcing a great save from Dida. But Corinthians were far from easy opponents, and eight minutes into the game Marcelinho launched a long ball in for Edílson, whose shot was not properly saved by Marcos and bounced free. Luizão pounced on it and headed towards goal, forcing Roque Junior to clear it on the goal line. Corinthians were having a marginally better share of possession, and after only 15 minutes they got their first goal, Edu chipping a shot to Ricardinho whose low shot across the goal mouth gave Marcos no chance to save.
Both teams saw chances come and go, Marcelinho and Ricardinho in particular teaming up for a great effort which just went slightly wide. And Palmeiras had a good chance after the half-hour mark, Euller dribbling the ball past Daniel and forcing Dida into a save which he could not hold. ena thundered down to collect it but the Corinthians keeper just managed to get to it, hurting himself in the ensuing collision with Pena. It was defender Junior who finally managed to level the scores, his shot taking a deflection off of Fábio Luciano, deflecting off of the crossbar at an acute angle and bouncing just over the goal line. But Palmeiras' joy was short-lived, as just over five minutes later Marcelinho launched a long range shot which Argel attempted to clear but directed into his own goal. Corinthians had a narrow lead as the game went into half-time.
The second half upped the high tempo even further. Alex came close to levelling the scores with a free kick which just skimmed the left of the goal, then Pena with a fantastic dribble around three defenders only to see his shot saved by Dida. But Palmeiras were leaving a little too much space for Corinthians to operate in, and they extended their lead to two goals in the 55th minute when Marcelinho chipped a nice pass to Edu, who flicked it on for Edílson to head in.
For the next twenty minutes it seemed as if Corinthians could get away with a win, Palmeiras having plenty of chances but failing to finish them. But the reigning Libertadores champions were far from finished, and a cross from Júnior found Alex, who headed the ball in to reduce the deficit, and seven minutes later it was all square again after Alex passed to Euller on the edge of the penalty area. Euller swooped and beat his shot in, a last-ditch rescue attempt by Fábio Luciano, who tried to clear off of the line, coming to nothing.
It was now three goals each, and looked as if Palmeiras could get away undefeated and take the advantage into the second leg. But one minute into injury time the home team took the high ground once more, Vampeta shooting from outside the area and watching his shot take a deflection off of a defender to leave Marcos stranded. A minute later the whistle blew and this top-quality game was over.
Corinthians go into the second leg with a slim advantage, meaning they can still win even if the game is drawn. But they conceded three goals, which will not go well if Palmeiras win the next round. Whatever happens, it seems almost certain that the second leg of this game will be even more exciting than the first.
Teams:
CORINTHIANS: Dida; Daniel (Índio), Fábio Luciano, Adilson, Kleber (Edson); Vampeta, Edu, Ricardinho, Marcelinho; Edilson, Luizão (Dinei).
PALMEIRAS: Marcos; Neném, Argel, Roque Junior, Junior; César Sampaio, Galeano, Rogério (Marcelo Ramos), Alex; Euller, Pena.
