São Paulo’s Gritty Comeback Over Flamengo Sets A Different Tone For Crespo’s Return

Key Points

1. São Paulo opened the 2026 league with a 2–1 comeback that rewarded effort over elegance.
2. Danielzinho’s first goal for the club, after arriving from Mirassol, decided the opener at MorumBIS.
3. Flamengo left angry at the refereeing, with a late penalty appeal denied and Jorginho sent off after protests.

Hernán Crespo’s message was blunt before kickoff: this Brasileirão is about reaching 45 points. After one night at MorumBIS, São Paulo already had three of them, earned the hard way.

They beat Flamengo 2–1 in the opener on January 28, turning a shaky performance into a result that can reset confidence.

The football was rarely flowing. Crespo brought back a back-three and set his team to defend deeper, then break when possible.

Flamengo looked more comfortable early and found spaces between lines, including a first-half chance for Jorge Carrascal after movement from Pedro pulled defenders away.

São Paulo Edges Flamengo In Thrilling Finish

São Paulo’s best warning came from Luciano, who chased a long ball and drove a finish just wide of Agustín Rossi’s post. Flamengo’s control became a lead early in the second half.

A cross was cushioned by Pedro’s chest into the path of Gonzalo Plata, who finished with a delicate touch past Rafael. São Paulo’s response was more force than choreography.

They pushed forward, accepted risk, and found an equalizer through a simple, direct pattern. Enzo Díaz delivered from the left, and Luciano rose between defenders to head in.

With the score level, momentum shifted. Pressing forced errors, and the decisive moment came from one. Luciano sent another ball into the area, Erick Pulgar failed to clear, and Danielzinho struck the loose ball for 2–1.

It was his first goal wearing São Paulo colors, a fast return on a signing framed more as utility than glamour.

The finish had everything Brazil’s biggest matches tend to produce. In the sixth minute of stoppage time, Giorgian De Arrascaeta’s header was saved by Rafael.

Flamengo appealed for a penalty in a challenge involving Alan Franco, but the referee Wilton Pereira Sampaio let play continue after a VAR check by Rodrigo D’Alonso Ferreira. After the whistle, Jorginho was shown a red card for protests.

The crowd of 27,203 generated R$ 1,543,721 ($285,874) in gate revenue. Next, São Paulo turns back to the Paulista schedule against Santos on Saturday, while Flamengo heads to Brasília to face Corinthians in the Supercopa Rei on February 1.

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