Santos FC Claims Copa Ibrachina Sub-20 Championship in Thrilling Finale

São Paulo, Brazil – Santos FC captured the Copa Ibrachina Sub-20 title in a dramatic showdown against EC São Bernardo on Sunday, April 13. The match, held at Ibrachina Arena, ended in a 1-1 tie after regulation and was decided by penalties, with Santos winning 4-2.

Kauan Pereira opened the scoring for Santos at the 43rd minute, executing a stunning strike after receiving a well-placed pass from Kenay. The goal gave Santos a 1-0 lead heading into halftime, but the lead was short-lived.

Just one minute into the second half, Chaudar of EC São Bernardo found the equalizer with a powerful shot from outside the box, leaving Santos goalkeeper Pedro with no chance to save.

With the game tied and regulation time coming to an end, both teams showcased their resilience. The match proceeded to a penalty shootout after neither team managed to secure a win during overtime.

Santos goalkeeper Pedro proved to be the hero, successfully saving two penalty attempts from EC São Bernardo, which ultimately sealed the victory for his team. Santos’ shooters – João Alves, Everton, Contreras, and Pedro Assis – all converted their shots with precision, finalizing the shootout at 4-2.

Head coach Fabrício Monte praised his team’s effort and resilience. “We demonstrated great strength and determination throughout the tournament,” he said. “Winning this title is a significant achievement for our young players.”

Santos had a challenging road to the final. In the semifinals, they overcame the same EC Ibrachina, securing a 3-1 victory thanks to two goals from Guilherme Lima and another from Everton. The pressure was heightened as the Sub-20 squad had a concurrent commitment in the Campeonato Brasileiro Sub-20.

In the formative stages of their careers, these young athletes showcased skill and tenacity, earning them a place at the pinnacle of the tournament. The lineup that took the field under Monte included Pedro; Lenin, Assis, Contreras, and Pedro Hian; Kenay, Caio Araujo (substituting for Everton), Adryan (substituting for Pedro Assis); and Juninho (substituting for Guilherme Lima), among others.

This championship win not only marks an important milestone for Santos FC but also highlights the talent emerging from their youth programs. The triumph reinforces the club’s commitment to developing young players capable of competing at high levels.