Referee Controversy and Veiga's Hat-Trick: Palmeiras 5-3 Juventude

On October 20, 2024, Palmeiras defeated Juventude by 5-3 at the Alfredo Jaconi Stadium in Nova Iguaçu. The standout of the match was Raphael Veiga, who scored a hat-trick. In addition to him, Estêvão and Richard Ríos also found the net for Palmeiras, while Danilo Boza, Ronaldo, and Edson Carioca scored for Juventude.

Match Highlights: Juventude x Palmeiras

In the first half, Palmeiras dominated possession. With a precise through ball in the 21st minute, Felipe Anderson assisted Estêvão, who dribbled past the goalkeeper and opened the scoring.

This was Estêvão's first start since his injury on September 15 against Criciúma. Since the injury, the 17-year-old had only played 20 minutes as a substitute in a match against Bragantino on October 5.

At the end of the first half, Danilo Boza equalized for Juventude, but before the break, Raphael Veiga received the ball from Estêvão and put Palmeiras back in front, 2-1.

In the second half, the intensity of the game increased. Just 3 minutes after the restart, Juventude equalized again, but Raphael Veiga quickly restored Palmeiras' lead. Following that, Richard Ríos scored from a free kick, extending the score to 4-2. Despite a beautiful goal from Edson Carioca for Juventude, Raphael Veiga sealed Palmeiras' victory with another goal, ending the match at 5-3. This was the highest-scoring match of the current season of the Copa do Brasil.

Goal Highlights:

0-1: Felipe Anderson made a brilliant pass inside the box, Estêvão controlled the ball before defender Alan and, dribbling past goalkeeper Mateus Claus, scored Palmeiras' first goal.

Controversy: Uncalled Penalty on Estêvão

At the start of the match, a controversial play occurred when a Juventude defender fouled Estêvão in the box, but referee Alex Gomes Stefano did not award the penalty, causing outrage among Palmeiras fans. Even though VAR review did not take place, many supporters deemed it a clear injustice.

Estatísticas de Estêvão:

Estêvão made history by opening the scoring, breaking the record previously held by Neymar. The young player, now the most productive at 17 years, has participated in 18 matches, combining goals and assists. Neymar had recorded 16 direct goal contributions in 2009.

Nenê's Suspension

Before the clash against Palmeiras, the absence of Nenê drew attention. The midfielder was excluded from the match due to a notification from the CBF system, indicating that he is under a pending situation with the STJD. Although Juventude denied that Nenê is subject to recent court decisions, the team chose not to field him to avoid potential future sanctions.

Controversy of Referee and Hat-Trick of Veiga: Palmeiras 5-3 Juventude