Hugo Souza Shines as Corinthians Advance to Paulista Semifinals After Penalty Shootout Victory

Corinthians secured their place in the Campeonato Paulista semifinals after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Portuguesa on Sunday, February 22, 2026. Goalkeeper Hugo Souza was the hero for the Timão, defending two penalties during the shootout and one during regular time.

Match Recap

The match ended in a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes, forcing the game to a penalty shootout. Hugo Souza first proved crucial during the match itself, saving a penalty from Renê. In the shootout, Souza successfully defended two more penalties, securing an 8-7 win for Corinthians.

Souza’s Penalty Record

With these three saves, Hugo Souza has now defended a total of 14 penalties for Corinthians, surpassing Gylmar’s 11 and becoming the third-highest penalty saver in the club’s history. He trails only Cássio, with 32 saves, and Ronaldo, with 27. Prior to this match, Souza had defended six penalties in shootouts and five during regular play against Estêvão and Raphael Veiga (Palmeiras), Pablo Dyego (Novorizontino), Benavídez (Athletico-PR), and Isidro Pitta (Bragantino).

Semifinal Matchup

Corinthians will face Novorizontino in the semifinals. Due to Novorizontino’s higher regular season ranking, the match will be played at Estádio Jorge Ismael de Biasi in Novo Horizonte.

Other Semifinal

The other semifinal will feature a clash between Palmeiras and São Paulo, to be held at Arena Barueri.

Early Momentum for Portuguesa

Portuguesa took the lead in the 37th minute with a goal from Zé Vitor, after a misjudgment from Corinthians defender André Ramalho. But, Hugo Souza had previously kept the score level by saving a penalty from Renê in the 23rd minute.

Source: ESPN.com.br, ge.globo.com, lance.com.br, terra.com.br