São Paulo hero Carneiro suffers penalty heartbreak in Uruguay | OneFootball

Former São Paulo forward Gonzalo Carneiro was at the centre of a dramatic finale in Uruguay as his current club, Nacional, fell to Peñarol on penalties in the Torneo Intermedio final, according to Arquibancada Tricolor.

Carneiro, who played for São Paulo between April 2018 and March 2021, had previously carved out a place in Tricolor memory with a memorable chipped penalty in the 2019 Paulistão semi-final shootout against Palmeiras—a moment that helped propel São Paulo into that year’s state final. This weekend, however, Carneiro found himself cast in a far different role.

The decisive Intermedio final, played on Sunday and finished goalless after 90 minutes, saw Carneiro as one of Nacional’s penalty takers in the ensuing shootout. Unable to convert his effort, Carneiro's miss contributed to Nacional's eventual 5-3 loss on penalties, handing Peñarol the trophy.

His recent penalty evokes memories of high-pressure moments from his São Paulo career but delivers a contrasting outcome. Carneiro’s tenure in São Paulo remains defined by contributions in knockout scenarios, but Sunday’s setback underscores the unpredictability that has trailed his post-Morumbi journey.

Despite the disappointment, Carneiro continues to feature regularly for Nacional, playing central roles in important fixtures. For São Paulo fans tracking their former players’ careers, Carneiro’s highs and lows serve as sharp reminders of football’s fine margins—with just a single spot-kick often making all the difference on a big stage.

(Source: Arquibancada Tricolor)

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