Cuiabá Draws in Copa Verde Debut with U-20 Squad, Extending Winless Streak to Six Games; Kenzo Hamazaki Shines

It was a night of reunions and challenges at the Arena Pantanal. In their Copa Verde debut, Cuiabá Esporte Clube let victory slip away in the final minutes, settling for a 1-1 draw against Tocantinópolis. The bitter result adds to a streak that’s starting to worry the Cuiabá faithful: six games without a win.

To be fair, the manager sent out a squad that looked very different from what we're used to seeing. With one eye on the demanding schedule ahead and another on developing the youth, Dourado took the field with a lineup that mixed experience with the young guns from the Cuiabá Esporte Clube U-20. And the kids, I have to 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 expected for a debut. Cuiabá tried to set the tempo but kept running into the visitors' tough defense. The goal, which seemed like it might never come, came from one of the young players who really caught my eye. When the ball fell to him at the edge of the box, attacking midfielder Kenzo Hamazaki, just 18 years old, didn't hesitate. He blasted it into the right corner, leaving the keeper with no chance. Even with a smaller crowd, the Arena Pantanal 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 the lead ended up being a bitter pill. The team dropped 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 nicely for them to equalize. A 1-1 draw, and the feeling that two points were left on the table.

Youth squad showed up, but the "killer instinct" is missing

I'll be honest with you: watching this game, the analysis is twofold. On one hand, there was grit. Players like Kenzo Hamazaki showed real character. He didn't hide, he asked for the ball in tough spots, and he made the passes the team needed to catch its breath. He's the kind of gem that Cuiabá fans love to see shine.

On the other hand, they lacked that experience, that "street smarts" to manage the game. Holding onto a lead for 45 minutes requires knowing when to slow things down, making a tactical foul, or keeping the ball at the corner flag. These are things a more seasoned team has, but this young squad is still learning the ropes.

• Possession was even: Cuiabá had a slight 52% possession, but lacked penetration in the final third.
• Standout performer: Kenzo Hamazaki was the engine of the team, involved in most of the offensive plays.
• Negative streak: This marks Cuiabá’s sixth consecutive game without a win, a statistic that raises a red flag for upcoming competitions.

Now, it's about taking the experience from this draw and flipping the switch. The Copa Verde is still in its early stages, and advancing isn’t a major concern just yet. But the pressure for a win—to restore confidence in both the squad and the fans—only keeps growing. They can't afford to slip up next time. Cuiabá needs to show that, whether with the veterans' experience or the hunger of the U-20 kids, the weight of the shirt is an advantage, not a burden.

And here's a message for the fans: these young players deserve support. Kenzo and the rest of the youth squad have shown they have star quality. Now, they need to mature quickly, because in Brazilian soccer, time is a luxury no one has.