Flaco Lopez was champing at the bit to start test two. Many felt he would. Palmeiras had, after all, been held to a 0-0 draw in their FIFA Club World Cup™ opener despite dominating for long periods. The in-form striker was viewed as the man to take the chances Estevao and Co were expected to create.
But when the team-sheet came, so too did disappointment for the Argentinian. It left Lopez with a fat chance of leaving MetLife Stadium in a superhero’s cape, but ‘Skinny’ penned his own fairy tale in New York New Jersey.
Sent on by Abel Ferreira for the second half, with Palmeiras goalless again, this time against Al Ahly FC, the 1.90m striker’s presence and harrying of his opponents was central to Wessam Abou Ali inadvertently turning the ball into his own net minutes later. Just before the hour, Lopez raced on to Mauricio’s fine through-ball and finishing clinically to seal a 2-0 victory.
“I’m very happy, very happy,” the 24-year-old told FIFA. “Scoring a goal in competition like this is a dream. It’s another dream I’ve realised in my career. I’m happy with the victory and that our hard work paid off.”
Mauricio was the second player sent on at half-time. He, too, made a crucial impact.
“We put in a very good performance,” said the 23-year-old midfielder. “In the second half, we managed to get control and boss the game more. I’m very happy to have played an excellent game – not just me, but my team as well. They were three very important points.”
Another key figure for Palmeiras was 18-year-old sensation Estevao, who picked up his second successive Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match award.
“It was a difficult game, it was very hot,” said the winger. “We know how difficult it is playing in the heat. We knew how capable their team was, but we were also aware of our own qualities. We managed to impose our game and, together with the support of our fans, which was fundamental, we got the three points. Thank God.”
Palmeiras now lead Group A on four points. Next up in a clash against Inter Miami and Lionel Messi, who multiple Palmeiras players idolise.
“He’s my idol,” said Lopez. “The next game will be another dream that will come true if, God willing, I play. I’m really happy about this. He’s an idol for me.”
“He’s my biggest role model in football,” added Estevao. “Him and Neymar are my idols. It will be a spectacle playing against him, seeing him up close. It will be the fulfilment of a dream for me.”
Mauricio added: “There’s not much to say about Messi. He’s a player with incredible quality, the best player in the world so many times.
“He’s an idol that I’ve always tried to model myself on, though it’s very difficult to model myself after a player of his quality. He’s an outstanding player, but he also has a team behind him, so we have to pay close attention and study them a lot.
“We know how important it is to qualify in first, but once you reach a competition like this, you can’t choose who you play or wait for easier teams to come. All the teams in this tournament are the best in the world, so we have to be prepared for anything.”
