No changes at the top
For the first time in quite some time, all four teams at the top of the standings in the Brazilian Serie A won their matches in the same round. This weekend, Sao Paulo, Santos, Gremio and Internacional gained three points, to keep the race for the title unchanged. The most impressive result came at the Vila Belmiro, where Santos crushed Palmeiras 5-1 in the Sao Paulo State derby. Inter and Sao Paulo had important away wins, while Gremio defeated Parana in its return to the Olimpico Stadium after a three-match ban.
Santos started the game against Palmeiras trying to control the game in its attacking zone, while the visitors put on a more defensive formation. After a few missed chances by both sides, the locals opened the score with Luiz Alberto. Former Middlesbrough's Juninho tied the game shortly after, and it looked like Palmeiras could keep its unbeaten streak after the World Cup alive. Luiz Alberto had other plans though, and scored the second for Santos shortly after. With the partial score in its advantage, Santos did not fall into the trap of sitting back trying to protect the lead though. Right at the start of the second half, the team scored again with Wellington Paulista and continued to create chances. Before the game was over, the same Wellinton Paulista would score again, with Jonas making it 5-1. The result keeps Santos four points behind Sao Paulo, with 38 points, tied for second place with Gremio.
Sao Paulo went to Recife to face the worst team in the tournament, and came away with three points. Rogerio Ceni put the visitors ahead in the first half, redeeming himself for the penalty kick he missed in injury time of the game against Fortaleza at home, on Thursday. This time he scored on a free kick, thanks to a mistake by goalkeeper Guto. Sao Paulo still hit the crossbar twice, while Santa Cruz had trouble generating dangerous chances. The locals gained some control of the game at the start of the second half though, and tied the game with Jorge Henrique, at the 50th minute mark. He almost scored again one minute later, but instead hit the post of Ceni. Santa Cruz could have gone ahead, but Thiago scored twice to give Sao Paulo the 3-1 win.
After playing three home games away from home, with closed gates, due to a sanction because of incidents during a game against Internacional, Gremio returned to the Olimpico Stadium in Porto Alegre. Forty thousand fans showed up too, eager to see the team that had won six of its last seven. They were given a small scare early in the game, when visiting side Parana opened the score after just 15 minutes. Angelo scored on a free kick. Captain William scored fifteen minutes later, when Gremio pulled forward desperately seeking the tie. The locals kept playing better but only went ahead in the second half, when Tcheco converted a penalty kick at the 73rd minute.
In Rio de Janeiro, Internacional scored twice with Fernandao in two penalty kicks given two minutes apart in the second half, to come from behind to beat Flamengo 2-1. Obina opened the score in the first half, but missed several other chances that could have given the Brazilian Cup champions a win at home. The result, combined with the other matches this weekend, returned Flamengo to the relegation zone, in 17th place and only 24 points from 22 matches. Inter is still in fourth, with 37.
Corinthians left the bottom four with a 1-0 win at home over Ponte Preta, which is now in 18th place. In Belo Horizonte, Cruzeiro and Figueirense tied 2-2, with the locals scoring the tying goal only in the last minutes of the second half. In Sao Caetano, Fortaleza and Sao Caetano were held scoreless, while Vasco and Fluminense tied 1-1 at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. After a 11-game winless streak, Goias has now won two in a row, after defeating Juventude 2-0 at home. Finally, Botafogo continues to surprise everyone, going to Curitiba and beating Atletico Paranaense 5-0 to reach its fourth straight win and distance itself from the bottom four. The team from Rio is now in 10th place, with 30 points.
There will be no games from the Brazilian Serie A this midweek, with the 23rd round taking place on Saturday and Sunday.
Santos started the game against Palmeiras trying to control the game in its attacking zone, while the visitors put on a more defensive formation. After a few missed chances by both sides, the locals opened the score with Luiz Alberto. Former Middlesbrough's Juninho tied the game shortly after, and it looked like Palmeiras could keep its unbeaten streak after the World Cup alive. Luiz Alberto had other plans though, and scored the second for Santos shortly after. With the partial score in its advantage, Santos did not fall into the trap of sitting back trying to protect the lead though. Right at the start of the second half, the team scored again with Wellington Paulista and continued to create chances. Before the game was over, the same Wellinton Paulista would score again, with Jonas making it 5-1. The result keeps Santos four points behind Sao Paulo, with 38 points, tied for second place with Gremio.
Sao Paulo went to Recife to face the worst team in the tournament, and came away with three points. Rogerio Ceni put the visitors ahead in the first half, redeeming himself for the penalty kick he missed in injury time of the game against Fortaleza at home, on Thursday. This time he scored on a free kick, thanks to a mistake by goalkeeper Guto. Sao Paulo still hit the crossbar twice, while Santa Cruz had trouble generating dangerous chances. The locals gained some control of the game at the start of the second half though, and tied the game with Jorge Henrique, at the 50th minute mark. He almost scored again one minute later, but instead hit the post of Ceni. Santa Cruz could have gone ahead, but Thiago scored twice to give Sao Paulo the 3-1 win.
After playing three home games away from home, with closed gates, due to a sanction because of incidents during a game against Internacional, Gremio returned to the Olimpico Stadium in Porto Alegre. Forty thousand fans showed up too, eager to see the team that had won six of its last seven. They were given a small scare early in the game, when visiting side Parana opened the score after just 15 minutes. Angelo scored on a free kick. Captain William scored fifteen minutes later, when Gremio pulled forward desperately seeking the tie. The locals kept playing better but only went ahead in the second half, when Tcheco converted a penalty kick at the 73rd minute.
In Rio de Janeiro, Internacional scored twice with Fernandao in two penalty kicks given two minutes apart in the second half, to come from behind to beat Flamengo 2-1. Obina opened the score in the first half, but missed several other chances that could have given the Brazilian Cup champions a win at home. The result, combined with the other matches this weekend, returned Flamengo to the relegation zone, in 17th place and only 24 points from 22 matches. Inter is still in fourth, with 37.
Corinthians left the bottom four with a 1-0 win at home over Ponte Preta, which is now in 18th place. In Belo Horizonte, Cruzeiro and Figueirense tied 2-2, with the locals scoring the tying goal only in the last minutes of the second half. In Sao Caetano, Fortaleza and Sao Caetano were held scoreless, while Vasco and Fluminense tied 1-1 at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. After a 11-game winless streak, Goias has now won two in a row, after defeating Juventude 2-0 at home. Finally, Botafogo continues to surprise everyone, going to Curitiba and beating Atletico Paranaense 5-0 to reach its fourth straight win and distance itself from the bottom four. The team from Rio is now in 10th place, with 30 points.
There will be no games from the Brazilian Serie A this midweek, with the 23rd round taking place on Saturday and Sunday.
posted by fejas @ 9:17 AM
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