2024-12-16, 09:49 PM - Word count:
The weight of expectation was heavy in the air as São Paulo stepped onto the pitch for their opening match of the SSL Cup. Hollywood FC arrived as the clear favorites, a team filled with talent and predicted by many to make it through the group stage of the Cup. But for São Paulo, this was more than just a game, it was an opportunity to prove themselves, to show their fans that this season was different.
The first half was a tense battle, with Hollywood looking to end the match quickly. Their breakthrough came in the 30th minute when Evan Hunt took advantage of the defense giving him too much space, slotting the ball into the corner of the net. For a moment, the old doubts threatened to creep in again—the whispers of missed opportunities, of stronger opponents overpowering São Paulo.
But this reborn São Paulo team refused to bow their heads. Just five minutes later Nerve De Groot broke through the Hollywood defense and made a pinpoint pass right into Julian Rubio’s path who tapped the ball in making the score level at 1-1, sending the stadium into delirium. The roar from the crowd was the sound of hope reigniting.
As the second half began, it was clear which team carried the belief. São Paulo grew in confidence, their energy overwhelming this once confident Hollywood team. In the 59th minute, it was De Groot again, the driving force of the night, who delivered the moment São Paulo had been waiting for. Vito Habjanic, finding space on the wing, delivered a pinpoint cross to the back post where Nerve De Groot rose above the Hollywood defenders and powered a header into the corner of the net, giving São Paulo their first lead of the night.
Hollywood tried to fight back, but São Paulo’s defense stood resolute. Beaklie Eilish and Calvin Ball threw themselves into every challenge, every clearance, refusing to give an inch. Hollywood's frustrations boiled over, with Alexandros Mograine and Nikola Lovrić both given yellows as their composure unraveled. São Paulo, meanwhile, stayed disciplined, their resolve unshakable.
When the final whistle blew, it was more than a victory, it was a symbol of a team rewriting its story in real-time. The statistical dominance—23 shots, 67% possession, and an xG of 3.23—told only a fraction of the story. The true measure of their triumph was etched in the faces of players and fans alike, a moment of pure joy.
The first half was a tense battle, with Hollywood looking to end the match quickly. Their breakthrough came in the 30th minute when Evan Hunt took advantage of the defense giving him too much space, slotting the ball into the corner of the net. For a moment, the old doubts threatened to creep in again—the whispers of missed opportunities, of stronger opponents overpowering São Paulo.
But this reborn São Paulo team refused to bow their heads. Just five minutes later Nerve De Groot broke through the Hollywood defense and made a pinpoint pass right into Julian Rubio’s path who tapped the ball in making the score level at 1-1, sending the stadium into delirium. The roar from the crowd was the sound of hope reigniting.
As the second half began, it was clear which team carried the belief. São Paulo grew in confidence, their energy overwhelming this once confident Hollywood team. In the 59th minute, it was De Groot again, the driving force of the night, who delivered the moment São Paulo had been waiting for. Vito Habjanic, finding space on the wing, delivered a pinpoint cross to the back post where Nerve De Groot rose above the Hollywood defenders and powered a header into the corner of the net, giving São Paulo their first lead of the night.
Hollywood tried to fight back, but São Paulo’s defense stood resolute. Beaklie Eilish and Calvin Ball threw themselves into every challenge, every clearance, refusing to give an inch. Hollywood's frustrations boiled over, with Alexandros Mograine and Nikola Lovrić both given yellows as their composure unraveled. São Paulo, meanwhile, stayed disciplined, their resolve unshakable.
When the final whistle blew, it was more than a victory, it was a symbol of a team rewriting its story in real-time. The statistical dominance—23 shots, 67% possession, and an xG of 3.23—told only a fraction of the story. The true measure of their triumph was etched in the faces of players and fans alike, a moment of pure joy.
![[Image: USP-Julian-Card.jpg]](https://i.ibb.co/Bn3WJtX/USP-Julian-Card.jpg)
