SÃO JOSÉ DOS CAMPOS, Brazil – The Brazil Under-20 National Team began a new cycle under head coach Paulo Victor with a convincing 3-1 victory over Paraguay on Saturday at Martins Pereira Stadium. More than just securing the win, the young Seleção delivered on Victor’s directives: a display of grit, attacking intent, and a clear embodiment of Brazilian footballing identity.
Bruninho led the scoring with two goals, while Erick Belé added another for Brazil. The two teams will meet again on Tuesday at Canindé, with a 4 p.m. Local time (1900 UTC) kickoff.
The match at Martins Pereira Stadium drew a crowd of over six thousand spectators, who created a vibrant atmosphere. The home side responded to the enthusiastic support with a performance that showcased their attacking prowess and technical skill.
The early stages of the match resembled a typical South American derby, characterized by physical challenges and a fierce battle for midfield control. Brazil received two early yellow cards – João Souza for a tactical foul to break up a promising Paraguayan counterattack, and Zé Lucas for a challenge the referee deemed unwarranted – before settling into their rhythm.
Once the initial nerves subsided, Brazil began to dictate the tempo, keeping possession and probing for openings. The breakthrough came courtesy of Bruninho, who received the ball on the right wing, cut inside, and unleashed a powerful shot into the top corner of Sosa’s goal. It was a stunning strike that demonstrated the winger’s quality and set the tone for the remainder of the first half.
Brazil continued to press, creating opportunities down the right flank. Bruninho’s skillful dribbling drew defenders, opening space for Erick Belé to make runs through the middle. A clever exchange between the two players culminated in Bruninho returning the ball to Belé, who calmly slotted his shot past the goalkeeper to double Brazil’s advantage.
However, Paraguay managed to pull one back before halftime. The referee awarded a penalty after judging that a ball had struck Prates on the arm, despite appearing to hit his stomach. Delmás stepped up and converted the spot-kick, narrowing the deficit to 2-1.
Paulo Victor made changes at the start of the second half, bringing on Heittor and Lucca in place of Luca Meirelles and Erick Belé, respectively. Heittor almost made an immediate impact, nearly scoring with a diving header from a Zé Lucas cross.
Paraguay threatened briefly when João Pedro misjudged a ball, but captain João Souza was on hand to block the opponent’s shot. Brazil responded emphatically, with Zé Lucas winning possession in defense and releasing Bruninho. The forward combined effectively with Heittor, receiving the ball back inside the box, and then skillfully danced past two defenders before finishing with a composed shot that left Sosa with no chance. It was Bruninho’s second goal of the match, sealing the victory for Brazil.
Lineups:
BRAZIL: João Pedro; Igor Felisberto (Ryan), João Souza, João Ananias, Kauã Prates; Zé Lucas, Djhordney (Tiago), Erick Belé (Lucca); Bruninho (Pedro Ferreira), Isaque (Gabriel Carvalho) and Luca Meirelles (Heittor). Head coach: Paulo Victor.
PARAGUAY: Sosa; Duarte, Coronel, Chaparro, González; Chena (Martino), Zarza (Vera), Sanabria (Vera), Silvero (Cristaldo); Delmás (Gomez) and Villalba (Gamarra). Head coach: Antolín Alcaraz.
This victory marks a positive start to Paulo Victor’s tenure as head coach of the Brazil Under-20 team. The team’s performance demonstrated a commitment to attacking football and a willingness to fight for every ball, qualities that will be crucial as they prepare for future challenges.
The rematch against Paraguay on Tuesday at Canindé will provide another opportunity for Victor to assess his squad and refine his tactics. Fans will be eager to see if the young Seleção can replicate their impressive performance and continue to build momentum as they look ahead to upcoming competitions.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.
