Cuiabá settle for draw in Copa Verde opener with Under-20 side, stretching winless run to six games; Kenzo Hamazaki shines
It was a night of reunions and challenges at the Arena Pantanal. On their Copa Verde debut, Cuiabá Esporte Clube let a win slip through their fingers in the final minutes, settling for a 1-1 draw against Tocantinópolis. This bitter result adds to a streak that's already troubling the Cuiabá faithful: that's now six matches without a taste of victory.
To be fair, the manager sent out a side quite different from what we're used to seeing. With one eye on a packed fixture list and another on developing the youth ranks, Dourado took the field with a lineup mixing experience with the youngsters from the Cuiabá Esporte Clube Under-20 squad. And the lads, I must say, held their own. On the contrary, they showed that fresh blood isn't intimidated by the big stage.
The first half was scrappy, as you'd expect from an opening match. Cuiabá tried to set the pace but kept running into the visitors' solid defensive work. The goal, which seemed like it might not come, arrived from one of the young players who impressed me the most. When the ball fell to him at the edge of the box, attacking midfielder Kenzo Hamazaki, just 18 years old, didn't hesitate. He unleashed a rocket into the right corner, leaving the keeper with no chance. The Arena Pantanal, despite a smaller crowd, erupted as if it were a championship decider. In that moment, with the young players celebrating with Kenzo, you could see the essence of what Cuiabá is trying to build.
But that lead ended up being a bitter pill. The side sat back a bit in the second half, and Tocantinópolis, with nothing to lose, pushed forward. In the 40th minute of the second half, after a scramble in the box that no one could clear properly, the ball fell kindly for them to equalise. 1-1 on the scoreboard, and the feeling that two points got away.
Academy showed promise, but missing that big-team savvy
I'll be honest with you: watching the game, it's easy to split the analysis into two parts. On one hand, the bravery. Players like Kenzo Hamazaki showed real character. He didn't hide, asked for the ball in the tough moments, and played the passes the team needed to breathe. He's the kind of gem that Cuiabá fans love to see shine.
On the other hand, they lacked that experience, that big-team street-smartness to manage the result. Holding onto a lead for 45 minutes requires knowing when to slow the game down, make a tactical foul, or hold the ball up by the corner flag. These are things a more seasoned side has, but this young group is still learning on the job.
- Balanced possession: Cuiabá had a slight 52% possession, but lacked penetration in the final third.
- Standout performer: Kenzo Hamazaki was the engine room, involved in most of the attacking moves.
- Negative streak: This marks Cuiabá's sixth consecutive match without a win, a stat that should raise a red flag for upcoming competitions.
Now, it's about taking the experience from this draw and flipping the script. The Copa Verde is still in its early stages, and qualification is far from being a concern. But the pressure to secure a win, to restore confidence in the squad and the fans, is only mounting. The next commitment leaves no room for error. Cuiabá needs to show that whether it's with the experience of the veterans or the hunger of the Under-20 lads, the shirt weighs in their favour, not against.
And a message for the fans: these boys deserve your support. Kenzo and the academy crew showed they've got star quality. Now it's about maturing quickly, because in Brazilian football, time is something no one has to spare.