Analysis The numbers behind the result
Santos clinical in victory despite Corinthians' dominance
Santos' 1-0 victory was deserved based on the balance of play, as their higher xG (1.16) edged Corinthians' 0.85 despite the hosts enjoying 62% possession. C. Oliva's 33rd-minute strike proved decisive, converting one of Santos' few clear chances in a match where they were outshot 18-8 overall, but landed 4 shots on target to Corinthians' 2.
Corinthians' territorial dominance (8 corners to 1) and higher pass accuracy (87% vs 77%) didn't translate to quality chances, with 9 of their 18 shots coming from outside the box. Santos' compact defensive shape forced Corinthians into 6 blocked shots while remaining disciplined – both teams received 3 yellow cards in a competitive midfield battle where Santos committed 16 fouls to disrupt rhythm.
The key stat was Santos' superior shot conversion – scoring from their only big chance while limiting Corinthians to just 0.85 xG from 18 attempts, showing efficient finishing against profligate hosts.