2025-04-06, 04:08 PM - Word count: 592
(This post was last modified: 2025-04-06, 04:09 PM by Chef Gagne. Edited 1 time in total.)
Two years back, Sao Paolo was the worst joke in Brazilian football history. For a people who celebrate the memory of Neymar, Ronaldo and Pele these Capybaras were a silly distraction. Their tactics were poor, their athletic prowess lacking, their future? Bleak. The pitch they played on was blackened and trampled by the unforgiving opposition. Sao Paolo was winless, drawless, and their goal differential? 100-9. Such indignity is difficult to manufacture, even intentionally. The fandom was listless, embarrassed, but somewhat hopefully - present. Even through the losses, the indignities, and the humiliation, the fans showed up. This is Brazil, after all. Win or lose, it's in the blood around here. So come season 18, with the arrival of some new blood and new ideas, the fans were present and account for as the tide began to turn.
The very first glimmer of hope came against Reykjavik. Hilariously outgunned, Sao Paolo suited up against the dynastic super-team and almost held their own. No one is ever pleased with a 3-0 loss, but for a team that had previously been outscored by nearly triple digits on the season? This was firm evidence of a coherent defense. Yes it was a loss, and yes it was decisive, but for once they weren't bleeding out on the scoreboard. They were winning skirmishes and asserting relevance in the face of an overwhelming opponent. As the season progressed, there were many more surprises in store. All in all, Sao Paolo rose from the embers of a listless campaign to plant a stamp of respectability on the SSL with 4 wins and 3 draws against seven losses. Most notable, they scored 22 goals against 24 allowed. That is a positively stunning improvement, reducing a goal differential of -91 down to -2. That's what happens when you add firepower at striker, depth to the midfield, and revamp the tactics to fit the talent. Enter season 19.
Goliath, meet David. USP began season 19 with a "calm before the storm" moment by claiming a draw against their South American rivals in Buenos Aires, followed by a shocking result of a draw against the overwhelming favorites in Iceland. From there, the Capybaras played with the wind at their backs, claiming stunning victories against Catalunya, SFV, Tokyo, and AC Romana before finally falling 1-0 to Hollywood. Their lockdown style was flat out working their opponents, and the defensive prowess of the Brazilian squad was proving to be a massively disruptive influence over the SSL's traditional power structure. While their cinderella story died quickly in the cup and slowly down the stretch, these upstarts nearly won the whole damn thing had it not been for a few heartbreakers in the season's twilight.
While many tears were shed in the waning weeks of season 19, the fans have a flame to carry into season 20. Their squad was able to hold opponents to 16 goals on the season, tied with SFV for the fewest in the league. They can also revel in the certainty that their roster is populated nose to tail with promising young talent, poised for improvement and perhaps ready for another serious run at the league crown. There were some key losses due to expansion, but USP returns in season 20 with Roquefort, Chef, Rubio a year older and a year wiser. Their game can't be a sneak attack anymore - the secret is out - but the league is most certainly on notice. The road to the title quite definitely goes through Sao Paolo.
The very first glimmer of hope came against Reykjavik. Hilariously outgunned, Sao Paolo suited up against the dynastic super-team and almost held their own. No one is ever pleased with a 3-0 loss, but for a team that had previously been outscored by nearly triple digits on the season? This was firm evidence of a coherent defense. Yes it was a loss, and yes it was decisive, but for once they weren't bleeding out on the scoreboard. They were winning skirmishes and asserting relevance in the face of an overwhelming opponent. As the season progressed, there were many more surprises in store. All in all, Sao Paolo rose from the embers of a listless campaign to plant a stamp of respectability on the SSL with 4 wins and 3 draws against seven losses. Most notable, they scored 22 goals against 24 allowed. That is a positively stunning improvement, reducing a goal differential of -91 down to -2. That's what happens when you add firepower at striker, depth to the midfield, and revamp the tactics to fit the talent. Enter season 19.
Goliath, meet David. USP began season 19 with a "calm before the storm" moment by claiming a draw against their South American rivals in Buenos Aires, followed by a shocking result of a draw against the overwhelming favorites in Iceland. From there, the Capybaras played with the wind at their backs, claiming stunning victories against Catalunya, SFV, Tokyo, and AC Romana before finally falling 1-0 to Hollywood. Their lockdown style was flat out working their opponents, and the defensive prowess of the Brazilian squad was proving to be a massively disruptive influence over the SSL's traditional power structure. While their cinderella story died quickly in the cup and slowly down the stretch, these upstarts nearly won the whole damn thing had it not been for a few heartbreakers in the season's twilight.
While many tears were shed in the waning weeks of season 19, the fans have a flame to carry into season 20. Their squad was able to hold opponents to 16 goals on the season, tied with SFV for the fewest in the league. They can also revel in the certainty that their roster is populated nose to tail with promising young talent, poised for improvement and perhaps ready for another serious run at the league crown. There were some key losses due to expansion, but USP returns in season 20 with Roquefort, Chef, Rubio a year older and a year wiser. Their game can't be a sneak attack anymore - the secret is out - but the league is most certainly on notice. The road to the title quite definitely goes through Sao Paolo.
