Depay match winner for Corinthians in Brazilian relegation match

Memphis Depay has once again proven his worth for Corinthians, the Brazilian club where he has been playing since mid-September. The 30-year-old striker was the match winner in the relegation match with Cuiabá with a striking penalty shortly before half-time: 0-1.

It was Depay’s second competitive goal after he had previously managed to put his team on the winning track with an effective free kick against Athlético Paranaense – also a competitor in the lower regions of the Série A.

The 98-time international (46 goals), who has not been called up by national coach Ronald Koeman since the European Championship, thought he would be allowed to shoot from eleven meters earlier in the match, but the referee was blown back by the VAR. That did not happen towards the end of the first half, after which Depay used the penalty flawlessly.

Depay, who played his seventh match for his new employer, was also important last week with an assist in the semi-final of the Copa Sudamericana against Racing Club (2-2).

Thanks to the victory over Cuiabá, Corinthians crawled out of the relegation zone for the first time since Depay’s arrival, where they had been since round seven. The team from São Paulo is now fifteenth with 35 points from 31 games. The bottom four in the twenty-club competition must take a step back at the end of the day.