In addition to talent, acrobatics, goals, and dance celebrations, Brazilian football also brings us curious moments that are hardly seen elsewhere. Adding to an extensive list of funny or striking episodes, Samurai escorted the São Paulo players to the pitch on Sunday.
Ahead of the match against Ituano in the last round of the Paulista tournament regular phase, each Tricolor footballer entered the field accompanied by a Samurai. The move was part of a joint marketing action between the club and Star+ for the television series “Shōgun,” a historical drama inspired by James Clavell’s 1975 novel of the same name.
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https://twitter.com/colunatricolor/status/1766901000390967736
“Encounter with Samurai! Today, Tricolor took the field for another Paulista duel led by the Samurai from the series Shōgun: The Glorious Saga of Japan, which is already available on Star+,” São Paulo explained via Instagram.
Nevertheless, Thiago Carpini’s team maintained the necessary focus to claim the victory in an intense match. Ferreira and Luciano put Tricolor ahead, but José Carlos de Oliveira scored his second goal in the 89th minute to put things level.
When it looked like the draw was inevitable, Bruno Alves de Souza saw the red card in added time, leaving Ituano with 10 players while putting the visitors in a position to chase all three points. In the 98th minute, Lucas Moura scored a penalty to give his team a dramatic victory.
Thus, São Paulo finished as Group D leaders due to goal difference, as they tied in points with Novorizontino (22), their next opponent in the quarterfinals.
