The finalists for the 2025 Copa do Brasil were announced this Sunday (14). The title and the R$77 million prize for the champion will be contested by Corinthians and Vasco, who prevailed over Cruzeiro and Fluminense, respectively, thanks to the brilliance of their goalkeepers in penalty shootouts.
The first and second leg matches of the final will be on Wednesday (17) and next Sunday (21). The first duel is scheduled for Neo Química Arena, in São Paulo, at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), while the game that closes the Brazilian men’s football season in 2025 will be at Maracanã, at 4 pm. The matches will be broadcast live on Rádio Nacional .
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The first to qualify was Corinthians, who beat Cruzeiro on penalties 5-4 at Neo Química Arena, after being defeated 2-1 in normal time – last Wednesday (10), the São Paulo team won 1-0 at Mineirão, in Belo Horizonte . Timão has accumulated three titles, the last one in 2009, and reaches its eighth Copa do Brasil final. The most recent was in 2022, when it fell to Flamengo.
Corinthians still have a chance to qualify for the Copa Libertadores in 2026, which is only possible if they win the title . Otherwise, having finished 13th in the Brazilian Championship, the São Paulo team will have to settle for the Copa Sudamericana. Cruzeiro, third place in the Brasileirão, is already guaranteed a spot in the group stage of the biggest interclub tournament in South America.
Needing to overturn the first-leg deficit, Cruzeiro took the initiative in the first half and had two good opportunities with Luis Sinistierra. In the eighth minute, the Colombian advanced down the right and shot across goal. In the 16th minute, the striker picked up the rebound after a great save by goalkeeper Hugo Souza on a volley from midfielder Matheus Pereira, but was blocked by defender Gustavo Henrique in the six-yard box.
Sinistierra, however, felt pain and had to be replaced – the player has been dealing with recurring muscle injuries in his thigh. At the 30-minute mark, the Colombian was replaced by Keny Arroyo. And it was the Ecuadorian who found the net. Nine minutes into the game, the striker received a cross from midfielder Christian on the right and anticipated defending Matheuzinho to score with a header.
Arroyo himself extended the lead four minutes into the second half, taking advantage of a pass from striker Kaio Jorge, who advanced freely down the right and left him one-on-one with Hugo Souza. The play was initially ruled offside, but the video assistant referee intervened and saw that the Ecuadorian was onside, validating Cruzeiro’s second goal.
However, in the ninth minute, Corinthians pulled one back and leveled the aggregate score again. After a free kick taken by midfielder Rodrigo Garro from midfield, defender André Ramalho headed the ball, goalkeeper Cássio failed to clear it properly, and full-back Matheus Bidu finished into the net. Timão intensified the pressure and hit the post twice, almost in quick succession, with Matheus Bidu and midfielder Breno Bidon, but the score remained unchanged.
The match went to penalties. Accustomed to shining at the Neo Química Arena for Corinthians, Cássio this time frustrated the home crowd by saving Yuri Alberto’s shot and giving Cruzeiro the lead. Forward Gabriel Barbosa also had a chance to secure Cruzeiro’s qualification, but his shot was poor and Hugo Souza made the save. The Corinthians goalkeeper also rose to the occasion, stopping a shot from midfielder Walace. It was up to Breno Bidon to score the winning goal for Corinthians.
Léo Jardim holds Vegetti and Canobbio
In the following duel, Vasco secured their place in the final by beating Fluminense on penalties, 4-3, after losing 1-0 in normal time. Cruzmaltino had won the first leg 2-1, last Thursday (11), also in Rio de Janeiro, and reaches the final for the third time. The last time was 14 years ago, when they won the only Copa do Brasil title in their history.
The qualification keeps Vasco’s dream of reaching the Libertadores alive, after finishing 14th in the Brasileirão. If they finish second, the Gigante da Colina (Vasco) will indeed compete in the Copa Sudamericana. Fluminense, fifth in Série A, is already guaranteed a spot in the group stage of the continent’s main tournament.
Even with an advantage on aggregate, Vasco started better and forced Fábio to make saves from dangerous shots by forwards Rayan and Andrés Gómez. The latter, in the 12th minute, aimed for the corner with a shot from the edge of the area on the left, but the goalkeeper saved it with his fingertips.
Vasco’s solid marking was betrayed by an own goal in the 35th minute. After a low cross from Agustín Canobbio on the right, forward Everaldo’s shot hit the post. The ball went wide and defender Paulo Henrique, attempting to clear it, sent it into his own net, putting Fluminense ahead. In stoppage time, Fábio secured the Tricolor’s lead going into halftime with a fine save from a Rayan free-kick.
In the second half, the Flu goalkeeper shone again in the eighth minute, saving a header from Rayan in the right corner after a cross from full-back Puma Rodríguez. The match was very physical, with nine yellow cards, an average of one every ten minutes. The net didn’t bulge again and, just like in São Paulo, the qualification was decided on penalties.
Fábio started the shootout well, saving Pablo Vegetti’s shot. In the second round of penalties, Léo Jardim saved John Kennedy’s shot. But it was the Vasco goalkeeper who shot again, saving Canobbio’s fifth shot with his foot. Puma Rodríguez converted the decisive penalty, securing Vasco’s qualification.
