EC São Bernardo — Comercial: 2:0, Copa Paulista

San-Bernardo saw off Comercial 2-0 after extra time in the Copa Paulista, Round of 16 on Friday evening. The hosts had already secured their place in the quarter-finals with two goals in regulation, but the match refused to end there. A penalty shootout stretched into a fourth round before the result finally settled.

Soldado opened the scoring in the 68th minute, a moment that shifted the entire complexion of the tie. Comercial responded with urgency and F. Claudino converted a penalty just before the final whistle, in the 90+6th minute. That goal should have brought the game into sudden death, but instead the visitors added another in extra time.

The shootout began at 120+1 and went on until 120+4, with both sides missing and scoring in equal measure. Three penalties were struck by each team, and Comercial lost their nerve in the decisive moments. San-Bernardo kept their side in it when it mattered, which is often the difference in these situations.

The statistics tell a story of dominance. San-Bernardo held 55 per cent possession and registered 18 shots to Comercial's five. Nine of their efforts were on target, compared to just four for the visitors. They also won more throw-ins and corners, controlling the tempo throughout.

We had tipped Comercial to win with a degree of confidence, but the match went another way. San-Bernardo's structure at the back, combined with their ability to punish errors, dismantled any hope the visitors had of overturning the deficit. The result ends Comercial's run and sends the hosts through.