Three Goalless Draws Mar Copa do Brasil Last 16 Opener for Palmeiras
The opening round of the Copa do Brasil's last 16 stage got underway this Saturday, with a shocking twist: not a single goal was scored in three of the four matches.
The first match between Vasco and Fluminense ended goalless, with Vasco's center-back Igor Rabello being named man of the match. Fluminense had three good chances to score, while Vasco had only one real opportunity.
The return leg will be next Wednesday (5th) at the Maracanã, but with Fluminense as the home side.
Meanwhile, in Belo Horizonte, Atlético and Juventude played out a goalless draw, with Alisson Safira nearly putting Juventude ahead in the first half.
Atlético had more possession and attacking momentum, but Juventude's Alisson Safira's shot crashed against the crossbar. The return leg will be on Tuesday (4th) at Alfredo Jaconi.
The clash between Santos and Remo also ended goalless, with Santos trying to take the lead right from the first half. They almost saw Jajá open the scoring for Leão, but failed to make the difference. Neymar battled hard, but couldn't make the difference.
The return leg will be next Tuesday (4th) at Mangueirão.
The lack of goals in these matches has raised questions about the quality of play in the Copa do Brasil. With no goals scored in three out of four matches, it's clear that the teams are struggling to break through.
The return legs of these matches will provide a chance for the teams to redeem themselves and make a difference in the competition.
Source: Yahoo Sports