Slavia took the match very conscientiously, surprising by including older and more mature players who have not yet appeared in the tournament. “Due to the demanding schedule of our teams, we had such a change planned, even if we were playing for a worse position”, explained coach Milan Titěra. The well-built stopper Ondřej Kričfaluši played excellently, Miloš, one of the Pudilov twins, who had already played in the European Cup for A, or Erik Hunal, the son of the former defender of Slavia and Teplice, was brilliantly intercepted by goalkeeper Filip Slavata.
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In the first half, the red and whites almost didn’t allow the opponent to finish quickly, and if they did – the shooting Wendell found himself in an offside position and the elusive Kauan Santos didn’t convert the chance in the end. After the break, Daniel Toula even sent the Czech team into the lead. The Brazilians increased their speed even more, Wendell already went around the goalkeeper, but he still did not hit the goal from the angle. Kauan Santos had another chance. Only after Matěj Žitný threw himself into the shot in the penalty area and knocked it down with his hand, Wendell equalized from a penalty kick. Slavia made three substitutions to bring fresh forces into the game, but shortly afterwards, the best player of the entire tournament, Thalys, turned the score around with a lightning strike and decided the winner. The Brazilians then lost substitute Caué, who probably broke his collarbone in a fall at the end.
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“It was a very difficult match for us, Slavia was at a high level in almost all parameters of the game. But we managed to turn the score around just like we did against Tigres and we won. It’s not individual performances that are important for us, but the victory of Palmeiras. We are proud that we did it again at such a great tournament in Prague”, said the enthusiastic Brazilian coach Lucas Andrade. His team continues to the next European stage, a tournament in Oberndorf, Germany, where they will face Hamburg, Stuttgart or Mönchengladbach.
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The players of Slavia met the Brazilian Palmeiras in the final of the CEE Cup.Photo: Svatopluk Collector
“They were excellent, very fast, it was difficult to face that. But we gave it everything, we really wanted to win the tournament, because Slavia has not succeeded yet”, said the goal scorer Daniel Toula sadly. “We played the final with dignity, we also forced the Brazilians to kick the ball into the stands. We tormented them and we’re happy about that. But their fast game, which created one-on-one situations that suit them, was deadly,” added coach Milan Titěra. “In a match like this, in addition to performing at the limit, you also need a bit of luck and then 100% converting the chances when you get into them. Slavia did well, but it just didn’t last until the end”, declared tournament ambassador David Holoubek, coach of the U19 national team flight.
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