With an impeccable campaign and cold blood in the penalty shootout, Internacional overcame Juventude to lift the Gaucho U-20 Championship trophy for the 18th time.
Internacional, also known as Colorado, confirmed their favoritism in the youth categories and became two-time champions of the Gauchão Sub-20. In an exciting match held at the Morada dos Quero-Queros stadium in Alvorada, Inter had to show resilience to overcome their green and white rivals. After a 1-1 draw in regulation time, the decision went to penalties, where the Porto Alegre team emerged victorious, 5-4.
The title reaffirms the strength of Internacional‘s youth academy on the state scene. With this result, the club reaches its 18th title in the competition, solidifying itself as the biggest winner in the tournament’s history in Rio Grande do Sul.
Drama until the end
The match was marked by intense balance. The scoring was opened in the 16th minute of the second half when Pedro Kauã capitalized on a corner kick and, unmarked, headed it firmly into the back of the net, putting Inter in the lead. Juventude, however, did not give up and equalized in the 38th minute with Nathan, who took advantage of a loose ball inside the box to make it 1-1.
As the first leg also ended in a draw, the title decider was settled from the penalty spot. Colorado maintained a 100% success rate on their kicks, while goalkeeper Filipe Sírio shone by saving the penalty from Kauã Costa, a defender for the team from Caxias do Sul.
“The composure shown by the young athletes, many of whom are already integrated into the first team’s activities, was the key differential for winning this trophy,” highlighted Inter’s coaching staff after the match.
Looking to the future
The victorious campaign was built with authority from the first phase, in which Inter finished as the sole leader of Group A. In the knockout stage, the team defeated São Luiz of Ijuí and eliminated archrivals Grêmio with two impressive victories in the semifinals.
For the second half of the year, the board’s objective is clear: to leverage the talented crop that shone in the Gauchão. Players like Luiz Felipe, Benjamin, Yago Noal, and Raykkonen — who are already experiencing the daily routine of the professional squad — are expected to gain more playing time under the coaching staff. The investment in youth is, once again, the path to ensure Internacional‘s competitiveness in the upcoming national competitions.
