Brasileiro: Unstoppable Palmeiras
Bruno Romani | Oct 05, 2009 | Comments 0
On the 27th round of Brasileirao, Palmeiras gave an important step towards the title by keeping the 5 point lead over Sao Paulo, the second team in the table. And it wasn’t a simple victory. It was a clear display of the discipline, power and luck (why not?) against Santos at Vila Belmiro.
It is true that Santos does not have a good team this season. But the match was in Santos and it was the first time Luxemburgo faced Palmeiras after being fired. Therefore, the match had all the elements to be tough for the squad headed by Muricy.
The first-half was mild and both sides seemed satisfied with a draw. Then Santos woke up the giant. Luisinho scored for the home team with 10 minutes into the second-half. And a few missed chances followed. Too dangerous when you play against the leader.
Muricy replaced Obina by Robert. Palmeiras shot 3 times. 3 goals. Diego Souza, the MVP of the league so far, scored the first and gave start to the goals scored by Robert and Vagner Love. Without showing off or putting much pressure, Palmeiras pocketed the 3 points. The title seems a matter of time.
Title? Maybe Not…
The race for the title seems to include less and less sides. Both Inter and Goias lost and see the leader more distant. And both sides lost for teams fighting relegation. Inter visited Coritiba and allowed two goals, scored by Marco Aurelio and Thiago Gentil, in the final 15 minutes. With the defeat, Inter lost a place in the Libertadores zone. And coach Tite was fired. Mario Sergio was hired in his place.
Even though Goias did not fire its coach, its result was even worse than Inter’s. In the first 20 minutes of the second-half, Goias allowed the visitors to score 3 goals. And the visitors were Botafogo, a side in the relegation zone. The goals were scored by Jobson, Victor Simoes and Andre Lima. Goias was able to score its only goal only in the stoppage time, through Amaral. The result kept Goias in fourth, 8 points behind Palmeiras.
Libertadores
The one side who had a positive weekend was Atletico-MG. The side headed by Celso Roth is alive and will fight for a spot in the Libertadores. The team beat Barueri at home 2-1. One goal was scored by Brazil International Diego Tardelli. The other goal was scored in free-kick taken by midfielder Correa. He returned to Brazil and is playing some serious football. The goal of the visitors was scored by Flavinho. Atletico is in third in the table.
Resurrection and Relegation
The weekend also had 2 matches putting face to face 2 sides still dreaming of a place in the Libertadores zone and 2 sides trying to scape the relegation zone.
Flamengo played the derby against Fluminense. It was the last derby at Maracana in a long time. The stadium will be closed for reforms aiming the 2014 World Cup. And the emperor closed well this chapter of the stadium. Flamengo suffocated Fluminense, specially in the second half, and Adriano scored twice. He reached 15 goals in the league, the top scorer, resurrected Fla’s dreams of Libertadores and sentenced Fluminense to death. Flu has only 21 points, 7 behind the first team outside the relegation zone. Almost impossible to scape. Flamengo is in sixth, just 4 points behind the first team in the Libertadores zone.
Gremio, on the other hand, tripped over Sport at home. Gremio jumped ahead 3 times in the score board, goals by Jonas and Maxi Lopes (twice). But Sport insisted in getting the draw – goals by Vandinho, Paulinho and Fininho. And Gremio also missed a penalty taken by Tcheco and saved by Magrao. The draw was bad for both sides, as Gremio is far from the Libertadores zone, and Sport is still the second the last in the table.
Still in the relegation fight, Santo Andre managed to stay out of the death roll by beating Vitoria. The only goal of the match was score by Nunes with just 33 seconds into the match.
No Interests nor worries
Two matches involving sides with very few interests or worries in the league. Corinthians was humiliated at home by Atletico-PR, who won 3-1. The goals of the visitor were scored by Paulo Baier, Wallyson and Wesley. Jucilei scored for Corinthians.
In Florianopolis, Avai, the home team, tied with Cruzeiro in 2 goals. The goals for the home team were score by Leo Gago and Cristian. Cruzeiro scored by Leonardo Silva and Fabricio.
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