Minute 60.
Fourth official raised the board.
17 in. 11 off.
Thiago pulled off his bib, wiped the sweat from his brow, and stepped toward the touchline.
Coach Eneas didn't speak until Thiago was within range.
"Wide left. Hold your width. Pull one of them out. You get a clean angle, take it. No hesitation."
Thiago nodded.
He jogged onto the pitch.
The noise was low, expectant—not for him, but for the game. Palmeiras trailed 0–1, and São Caetano weren't budging. Their back line sat deep, just above the penalty box, with the midfield squeezed in front like a closing vice.
There were no gaps.
Not yet.
First touch — a controlled trap near the sideline. The right-back pressed high. Thiago shielded, then slid the ball back to the fullback, who swung it across.
Clean. No impact.
Second touch came two minutes later — a short pass from Rafael, followed by a one-two attempt. Defender closed hard.
Thiago recycled it safely.
Coach Eneas clapped twice. "Good tempo!"
Safe wasn't sexy.
But it was necessary.
Minute 65.
Palmeiras built slowly. Every time they tried to shift inside, São Caetano snapped into shape. Their midfielders stayed tight, forcing play back out wide.
On the bench, players muttered under their breath. The fans behind the dugout were starting to boo. Not loudly—just enough to feel it.
Rafael dropped deep to collect. Called for movement.
"Space wide! Rotate!"
The ball moved left again.
Thiago took it on the half-turn. Defender pressing early.
He let the ball roll, then dragged it with the sole of his boot behind his standing foot.
A sharp shoulder fake, then acceleration.
He gained half a step, whipped in a low cross.
Cleared near-post.
Better.
Still nothing.
Minute 68.
São Caetano countered. Their number 10 broke into space, slipped a pass behind the center backs. The striker ran on.
Shot low.
Palmeiras' keeper saved it with his foot, deflecting it wide.
Corner.
The away fans exploded behind the net.
A second goal would've killed it.
Instead, it stayed alive.
Just barely.
Minute 71.
Palmeiras pressed higher. The fullbacks joined in. Rafael moved centrally, barking orders with every touch.
Thiago hovered outside the left channel, watching the defenders closely.
Next ball came fast — from Rafael again, slicing it in from a bounce.
Thiago caught it with his thigh. Defender tight.
One touch, then a drag to the left. The angle was tight, but he went for it — laces through the ball.
It sliced low, bending—
Blocked.
Off a shin. Cleared again.
Groans from the crowd.
He exhaled slowly.
No one came to pat his back.
Good.
He didn't want it.
Minute 74.
Nando switched sides temporarily. Palmeiras rotated quickly — fullback to midfielder, then back to Rafael. They were building like a chess player two moves ahead.
Thiago slipped into the inside pocket. Defender tracked him tight. He feinted, bounced off, got a soft return ball.
He touched it once. Turned. Saw space.
He struck it from twenty yards — clean.
But the keeper saw it early.
Caught.
Safe hands.
System Notification:Match Rating: 6.4EXP Gained: +7
He dismissed it without a second glance.
Minute 77.
São Caetano began wasting time. Their captain went down with "cramps." Their winger took twenty seconds for a throw-in.
The crowd's whistles got louder.
Eneas barked at the ref. "Enough of this, let them play!"
Palmeiras were growing sharper under pressure. Not frantic. Just… tuned in.
Thiago adjusted his socks again. Shoulders rolled once.
Still light on his feet.
Still watching.
Minute 79.
Free kick near the halfway line. Palmeiras kept it short, trying to draw out São Caetano's midfield. It worked—briefly.
The ball rotated through four players before Rafael chipped it toward the left wing.
Thiago moved early.
The defender read it.
But not the second movement.
Thiago let it bounce, then flicked it behind him with his heel, spun, and cut into the box.
Defender stuck a foot out—clipped him.
Thiago stumbled but stayed up.
Crossed.
The ball skidded past the penalty spot.
No one there.
Missed by inches.
Frustration boiled in the stands.
But not on the pitch.
They were getting closer.
Caio sat frozen behind the dugout. No phone. No banter.
Just tracking every shift.
Every run.
Every gap Thiago didn't take.
And the ones he did.
Minute 82.
Palmeiras kept pressing. Their shape looked like a stretched net—thin in places, but always snapping back.
Another ball came wide. Thiago held it. Slowed the tempo.
The defender didn't bite.
So he turned.
Cut inside.
Slipped it to Rafael on the overlap.
Rafael whipped a low cross.
Deflected.
Corner.
Thiago jogged to the edge of the box and stayed just outside the traffic.
Ball came in.
Too deep.
Cleared.
Back to midfield.
Time ticking.
Minute 84.
Eneas pointed.
"One more run, 17!"
Thiago nodded.
He could feel the shape breaking.
São Caetano's right side was slow to reset.
He drifted wider, made eye contact with Rafael.
The pass came.
Inside the lane.
He took it on the run, no touch to settle.
Cut inside—
And fired.