Juventude continues its perfect home record with a decisive 3-1 victory over São José-POA, marking its fourth consecutive win as the club revels at the top of Group C of the Gauchão. The match, held on the night of February 9, 2025, at the Alfredo Jaconi Stadium in Caxias do Sul, solidified Juventude's position as one of the primary contenders for the title this season.
Under the guidance of coach Fábio Matias, Juventude started the match strong, asserting their dominance early on. Just five minutes in, Jean Carlos delivered a precise corner kick, allowing Abner to leap above the defense and head the ball convincingly past goalkeeper Fábio Rampi to open the score at 1-0. The excitement for the home crowd only escalated as they witnessed their team control the pace of the game.
Juventude's offensive prowess was on full display as they pushed for more goals. The second goal came during first-half stoppage time when Jean Carlos skillfully curled a free-kick from outside the box, finding the back of the net with power and precision, leaving Rampi helpless once again. The first half ended with Juventude leading 2-0.
The second half commenced much like the first, with Juventude applying relentless pressure on São José. Within the opening moments of the half, Jean Carlos scored again, netting his second goal and Juventude's third just thirty seconds after the restart. Following this, São José had their opportunities, including a penalty awarded after some controversy surrounding the goalkeeper's intervention. Douglas stepped up to take it, but goalkeeper Gustavo showcased impressive reflexes, saving the shot and preserving the clean sheet at the moment.
São José finally managed to break through Juventude's defense during the latter stages of the match, as Giovane Gomez replied with their solitary goal, heading the ball past Gustavo with only two minutes left to play, ending the match at 3-1. Despite the late goal by Brazilian side São José, Juventude remained unshaken and continued to create chances, reinforcing their mandate for the upcoming matches.
With this latest win, Juventude firmly holds the top spot of Group C, now with 15 points, leaving rivals Grêmio and Internacional trailing behind with 14 and 11 points respectively. The club not only secured its passage to the semifinals but also established itself as the team with the best overall campaign this season.
Next up, Juventude faces Avenida on February 12, 2025, at the Estádio dos Eucaliptos, as they look to extend their winning streak and maintain momentum heading toward the semifinals. With the confidence soaring within the team and standout performances from players like Jean Carlos—who was pivotal with two goals and countless opportunities—there's much excitement about what lies ahead for this ambitious squad.
Living up to the expectations and proving their mettle, Juventude remains focused on their ultimate goal: claiming the Gauchão title.