Brasileiro: Sao Paulo Gets Very Close
Bruno Romani | Sep 14, 2009 | Comments 0
The 24th round of Campeonato Brasileiro was all Sao Paulo’s.
Sao Paulo received the surprisingly good side of Avai at Morumbi. In the first-half, Avai made things difficult for Sao Paulo, as the home team offered loose defensive action in the midfield. In the second-half, however, Sao Paulo decided to suffocate the visitors. The result: in 35 seconds, it scored a goal. Dagoberto received the assist by Marlos and pushed the ball against the back of the net. 39 minutes later, it was Dagoberto’s turn to serve a teammate. Hugo left the bench to score the second. With the 2-0, Sao Paulo jumped to 43 points – same points as Inter and just one point behind the leader Palmeiras.
Palmeiras visited Vitoria without Diego Souza, suspended with 3 yellow cards, Pierre and Mauricio Ramos, both injured. To top that, Vitoria historically gives a hard time to Palmeiras in Bahia. And the first-half was just a consequence of that. Palmeiras missed its players and Vitoria was very dangerous. The first goal by the locals, however, was scored by Uelliton after a mistake of goalie Marcos, who failed to clear properly a ball crossed by Ramon. Making things more difficult, forward Obina left the match with an injury. Robert replaced him and scored his first goal at Palmeiras in the only chance the green side had. The draw was unfair. In the second-half, Palmeiras improved and looked dangerous. But the person who was there to help ended up spoiling the match for the leader. Vagner Love lost a ball, and, in the counter attack, Neto Berola (good player, by the way) scored the second. With 39 minutes, Derlei, the ex-Porto and Sporting, left the bench to score the third goal for the home team. (Can you believe Derlei is on the bench for Vitoria?). With 2 minutes left, Robert scored again for Palmeiras. Too late.
To make things sweeter for Sao Paulo, Inter had a shockingly defeat at home against Cruzeiro. Another 3-2. Just like the match in Bahia, the home was very aggressive – demanding a good performance of goalie Fabio. Cruzeiro, however, gave signs it wasn’t going just to seat and wait for defeat. Veteran and ex-Brazil international Gilberto and forward Thiago Ribeiro looked dangerous. After ignoring a penalty in Taison, the referee saw the foul against Magrao and awarded Inter the penalty. Alecssandro took it and converted. Before the half was over, the ref gave another penalty – this time for Cruzeiro – after a foul in Thiago Ribeiro. Gilberto took and tied. Like in Bahia, the draw wasn’t fair to the home team. With just 7 minutes into the second half, Gilberto scored again for Cruzeiro, this time with a header. Things were getting tough for Inter. Then, with 29 minutes, Andrezinho, always perfect on free-kicks, scored again from a set piece. Inter fans had no time to celebrate. One minute later, Thiago Ribeiro scored for Cruzeiro again. The goal that made Sao Paulo’s weekend perfect.
Dreams Come….
The one side who once dreamed about fighting for the title and now will be happy if they grab a Libertadores spot is Goias. But its dream is slipping away. This weekend, the side was defeated by Barueri – and its surreal campaign. In the 3-1, Vitor, the good right-back from Goias, scored from a nice long range. But
Marcio Careca, with a goal and an assist to Thiago Humberto, shattered any perspectives of high aspirations. Basilio, the super veteran, had time to score the third goal.
…and go
Atletico-MG, who dreamed about the title and stopped doing so, regained some hope after it received Atletico-PR. True that the visitors scored first, with Alex Mineiro. But Atletico-MG had Renteria and Diego Tardelli. The latter scored one of the most beautiful goals of the weekend, which sent Atletico-MG to the 4th position again.
Relegation
It seems the sides in the bottom of the table are working hard to remain there. Botafogo and Fluminense played the oldest derby of Rio de Janeiro. Sadly, the two sides are in the relegation zone. Sadly, the 0-0 was good for neither. Both sides stay where they have been for several rounds.
Sport and Santo Andre had tough games and lost, as expected. The former visited Flamengo, who had Adriano inspired. The emperor scored twice and is again one of the top scorers of the tournament. Ze Roberto finished the match for Fla. Santo Andre visited Santos at Vila Belmiro and lost by the minimal score, goal by Germano.
Finally, even those outside the relegation zone, but very close to it, lost. Nautico received Gremio at home and the amazing happened: Gremio won its first match as a visitor in the tournament. It took them 24 rounds! Midfielder Souza and Jonas scored. The goal by Jonas was one of the most beautiful goals of the weekend, and also helped him become the other top scorer of the Brasileiro.
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