27 October 2004 - The Death Of Serginho

On 27 October 2004, São Caetano defender Serginho suffered a cardiac arrest during a match against São Paulo and died later that day. He was 30 years old.

The center back, whose real name was Paulo Sérgio Oliveira da Silva, had joined São Caetano in 1999 after spending the previous four years at six different clubs. While there, according to goalkeeper Silvio Luiz, team doctors discovered that Serginho had an enlarged heart which put him at risk for potential cardiac problems. But, again according to Luiz, they thought the risks of an incident were "less than one percent."

In the 38th week of the season, São Caetano was away at São Paulo when Serginho suffered a seizure and collapsed in the 60th minute. Physicians from both teams attempted to revive him, but with no success. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The match was abandoned with a score of 0-0, but the remaining 30 minutes were played on 3 November, with São Caetano winning 4-2. They were later docked 24 points for allowing Serginho to play with a known heart condition, dropping them from fifth to eighteenth in the final table.

31 July 2002 - They May Have Been Distracted By The Goalkeeper's Shirt

On 31 July 2002, Olimpia overturned a first-leg deficit against São Caetano to win their third Copa Libertadores on penalty kicks.

São Caetano, only two seasons removed from the Brazilian second division, had shocked Olimpia by winning 0-1 in the first leg, played in Ascunción the week before, with the lone goal coming from midfielder Ailton Delfino in the 61st minute. Hosting the second leg in São Paulo, they compounded the shock by again going up 1-0 with another goal from Delfino in the 31st minute.

But, this time, the Paraguayan side fought back. In the 59th minute, midfielder Gastón Córdoba drove a shot across the face of the goal and into the far corner. Then, ten minutes later, forward Richard Báez evened things up with a looping header. The teams remained level for the remainder of the match to force a decision by shootout.

Penalties were familiar to both teams in the tournament, as São Caetano needed them to get past Católica in the Round of 16 and Peñarol in the quarterfinals, while Olimpia used them to advance over Grêmio in the semifinals.

In the final, São Caetano started the shooutout and, after two kicks each, the teams were even at 2-2. But then both midfielder Marlon da Silva and defender Serginho sent their kicks for São Caetano over the bar. With Olimpia then leading 2-3, forward Mauro Caballero blasted his shot right down the middle, beating goalkeeper Silvio Luiz for the win.

27 October 2004 - The Death Of Serginho

On 27 October 2004, São Caetano defender Serginho suffered a cardiac arrest during a match against São Paulo and died later that day. He was 30 years old.

The center back, whose real name was Paulo Sérgio Oliveira da Silva, had joined São Caetano in 1999 after spending the previous four years at six different clubs. While there, according to goalkeeper Silvio Luiz, team doctors discovered that Serginho had an enlarged heart which put him at risk for potential cardiac problems. But, again according to Luiz, they thought the risks of an incident were "less than one percent."

In the 38th week of the season, São Caetano was away at São Paulo when Serginho suffered a seizure and collapsed in the 60th minute. Physicians from both teams attempted to revive him, but with no success. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The match was abandoned with a score of 0-0, but the remaining 30 minutes were played on 3 November, with São Caetano winning 4-2. They were later docked 24 points for allowing Serginho to play with a known heart condition, dropping them from fifth to eighteenth in the final table.

31 July 2002 - They May Have Been Distracted By The Goalkeeper's Shirt

On 31 July 2002, Olimpia overturned a first-leg deficit against São Caetano to win their third Copa Libertadores on penalty kicks.

São Caetano, only two seasons removed from the Brazilian second division, had shocked Olimpia by winning 0-1 in the first leg, played in Ascunción the week before, with the lone goal coming from midfielder Ailton Delfino in the 61st minute. Hosting the second leg in São Paulo, they compounded the shock by again going up 1-0 with another goal from Delfino in the 31st minute.

But, this time, the Paraguayan side fought back. In the 59th minute, midfielder Gastón Córdoba drove a shot across the face of the goal and into the far corner. Then, ten minutes later, forward Richard Báez evened things up with a looping header. The teams remained level for the remainder of the match to force a decision by shootout.

Penalties were familiar to both teams in the tournament, as São Caetano needed them to get past Católica in the Round of 16 and Peñarol in the quarterfinals, while Olimpia used them to advance over Grêmio in the semifinals.

In the final, São Caetano started the shooutout and, after two kicks each, the teams were even at 2-2. But then both midfielder Marlon da Silva and defender Serginho sent their kicks for São Caetano over the bar. With Olimpia then leading 2-3, forward Mauro Caballero blasted his shot right down the middle, beating goalkeeper Silvio Luiz for the win.