Guide to the 2019 São Paulo Junior Football Cup

Everything you need to know about the Mais Querido group in the main youth competition

By Mariana Sa - in 01/01/2019 às 16:08

The São Paulo Junior Football Cup is about to begin, and the Ninho Boys are ready to embark on another quest for the competition's biggest title. The tournament's reigning champion, Flamengo, is looking to retain the trophy in Gávea and begins its quest for a fifth title against River-PI on January 3rd.

The São Paulo Cup regulations divide the 128 participating teams into 32 groups of four teams each. Two clubs from each group qualify and advance to the second round. The remaining teams then advance to the third round, the round of XNUMX, the quarterfinals, the semifinals, and finally the final.

With intense preparation throughout the season, the U-20s had a positive year. In addition to the Copinha title, the Rubro-Negro also won the Guanabara Cup, the Carioca Championship, and the Dossena Trophy (Italy).

Ninho Boys seek fifth championship

The Red-Black team has won the Copinha on four occasions. In 1990, Mengo was led by midfielder Djalminha, who shone and was instrumental in the victory. Besides him, defender Júnior Baiano, who scored the winning goal against Juventus and is one of the greatest scorers in his position in the club's history, Marcelinho Carioca, and Paulo Nunes were also part of that generation.

In 2011, Mengão returned to Pacaembu Stadium to lift the trophy once again. Facing Bahia, goalkeeper César's team defeated Bahia 2-1, with goals from Frauches and Negueba, and won the title for the second time.

Rubro-Negro lifted the trophy again in 2016. The squad, which included Thiago, Léo Duarte, Lucas Paquetá, and Felipe Vizeu, defeated then-champion Corinthians on penalties after a 2-2 draw in regulation time, with goals from Trindade and Savio. With the goalkeeper saving three penalties, Patrick scored the penalty that secured the title.

To kick off 2018, Flamengo managed to go undefeated in a remarkable campaign. Experiencing a Copinha of overcoming obstacles, the Mais Querido hosted the strong São Paulo in the final at Pacaembu and fought from start to finish. With a lightning goal from Wendel early in the match, the Mais Querido held its own, with a fantastic performance from goalkeeper Yago Darub, winning 1-0 and taking the trophy.

Relive the behind-the-scenes of the 2018 title

Red-black cast

goalkeepers:

Pedro Caracoci

Victor Hugo

Yago Darub

Pedro Victor

Sides:

Michael

Pablo

Ramon

Victor Ricardo

vitinho

Defenders:

aderlan

Patrick

Nathan

Frills:

Matthew Alves

Henry

Gomes

Socks:

Luiz Henrique

Reinier

Marx

Attackers:

Bill

Victor Gabriel

Wendel

Yuri

Rodrigo Muniz

Rhyan Paradela

The opponents

Jaguariúna Futebol Clube is the municipality's only professional soccer team and will be the club's home stadium at the Copinha tournament. The team became professional in 2015 and began managing the Municipal Stadium in 2018, beginning planning for the next edition of the U-20 tournament.

Trindade Atlético Clube, from Goiás, will be making its third consecutive appearance in the São Paulo Cup. The team, led by coach Raphael Miranda, began training for the competition on November 14th and departs for Jaguariúna on December 31st.

River Atlético Clube (PI) had a great campaign in the Northeast U-20 Cup, reaching the semifinals, but lost on penalties to Fortaleza. Despite this, the run was historic, and the club had Matheus as the competition's top scorer. Some standout players from the youth team were promoted to the professional ranks but will be in the Copa SP.

In the last edition, River fell in the first round, finishing third with one win and two losses in a group containing Botafogo, Capivariano, and Velo Clube. Trindade advanced in their group, which also included Grêmio, Bragantino, and União Mogi, with one win and two draws, only to fall to Goiás.

Whoever advances in the red-black group will face the first and second placed teams from Group 16, which includes Botafogo (SP), CRB, Figueirense and Itapirense.

Match dates

With headquarters established in Jaguariúna (SP), Rubro-Negro will play all of its first phase matches at the local stadium.

03/01, Thursday: Flamengo x River-PI, at 16 pm

06/01, Sunday: Trindade x Flamengo, at 16 pm

09/01, Wednesday: Jaguariúna x Flamengo, at 16 pm

Curiosities

The red-and-black squad will feature 14 players who have previously won the Copinha tournament: goalkeepers Pedro Caracoci, Victor Hugo, and Yago Darub; full-backs Michael, Ramon, and Pablo; defenders Aderlan and Patrick; defensive midfielder Matheus Alves; midfielder Luiz Henrique; and forwards Yuri, Bill, Vitor Gabriel, and Wendel.

Pedro Victor, Natan, Rhyan, Rodrigo Muniz, Reinier and Gomes were with the U-17 team that won the Adidas Generation Cup, Evergrande Cup, Taça Guanabara and Copa do Brasil.

Reinier is the youngest player in the red-black squad at 16. The youngster will turn 17 on January 19th.

Yago Darub, Aderlan, Michael, Luiz Henrique and Bill are the oldest, at 19. They all turn 20 in 2019.

Flamengo is the club with the best record in finals, winning the four finals it has played in (1990, 2011, 2016 and 2018).

Transmission

The competition will be broadcast live on SporTV and ESPN.

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Social media coverage
You can also follow the U-20s on Flamengo's official social media channels, using the hashtag #GarotosDoNinho. Follow us on Twitter, at Instagram and like our page on Facebook. FlaTV also brings exclusive behind-the-scenes and match footage to the Rubro-Negra Nation. Sign up with one click, it's free!