Brazilian football lived up to its typically passionate reputation as Corinthians secured their first championship in six years.
Ex-Manchester United player Memphis Depay ignited a massive confrontation during his team`s 1-0 overall victory against rivals Palmeiras.
The intense second leg witnessed FOUR red cards and 13 yellow cards distributed to players and coaching staff throughout the game.
Corinthians entered the second leg with a 1-0 advantage, defending their lead at home to clinch the title and fiercely competing to do so.
That advantage nearly vanished when Palmerias were awarded a penalty in the 68th minute due to a reckless tackle by Felix Torres.
The 28-year-old went directly through Vitor Roque`s back, leaving the referee with no choice but to signal for a penalty.
Surprisingly, Torres was not booked for this foul, despite already having a yellow card from the first half, which infuriated Palmerias manager Abel Ferreira, who believed a red card should have been issued.
Ironically, Ferreira`s angry reaction resulted in the referee sending him off instead.
Adding to Palmeiras` woes, captain Raphael Veiga missed the penalty kick, allowing Corinthians to maintain their lead.
However, Ferreira`s anger was soon justified as Torres received a second yellow card and subsequent red card just five minutes later for another poor tackle on Roque.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
From that point, Corinthians focused on preserving their lead and running down the clock, including employing time-wasting strategies.
Depay attempted a bit of showmanship near the corner flag to waste time, but his flashy move instead triggered a mass brawl as tensions reached a boiling point.
Depay, who joined the Brazilian league in September, balanced on the ball to prevent the opposing defender from taking it.
The former Barcelona player was then shoved off the ball, which initiated a large fight between players from both teams.
Players from both sides, as well as substitutes warming up on the sidelines, rushed together in a moment of chaos.
The crowd inside the Corinthians Arena erupted with excitement at the sight of the altercation.
VAR reviewed the incident, which led to red cards for Palmeiras substitute goalkeeper Marcelo Lomba and Corinthians midfielder Jose Martinez, who had already been substituted.
Over 18 minutes of added time were allocated by the officials at the end of the match, but Corinthians managed to hold on, keeping the score 0-0 for the night and securing their first title in six years.
