Náutico 2-1 Barueri
Atlético Miniero 1-0 Vitória
Coritiba 3-2 Atlético Paranaense
Goiás 2-2 Fluminense
Internacional 1-0 Grêmio
Santos 3-4 São Paulo
Botafogo 0-1 Flamengo
Corinthians 0-1 Cruzeiro
Avaí 2-2 Sport Recife
You know. I'm not convinced now that Palmeiras want to win this title. They've fallen to three straight defeats and it's tighter than a nun's chuff at the top of the table. Palmeiras came unstuck convincingly on Wednesday night at a Santo André side which lifted themselves out of the relegation zone with their victory. A goal in each half from Nunes was enough to put Botafogo back into the relegation zone, who lost at home on Sunday in the big local derby match against Flamengo. The only goal of the game coming from Adriano after half an hour, his 16th of the season.
Of the other three teams in the title mix, all of them picked up maximum points. A 16th strike of the season from Diego Tardelli after 28 minutes was enough to give Atlético-MG a vital win over Vitória. Inter also won by a single goal, that coming from Andres D'Alessandro with only 3 minutes on the clock in the Gre-Nal. The San-São though, was a lot more entertaining. A 7 goal thriller at the Vila Belmiro saw the Champions get themselves back in the hunt. São Paulo twice came from behind to take the lead, André put Santos ahead after just 5 minutes before Henanes levelled things minutes later. Rodrigo Souto put Santos back ahead only for Washington to send the side in level at the break. Jorge Wágner then put São Paulo ahead on the hour only for Robson to level things up at the break. Cometh the hour,
cometh the man as Rogério Ceni's first goal of the season put São Paulo ahead just two minutes later. Ceni was then sent off 10 minutes later but São Paulo held on for a vital win.
The relegation dog fight continues a pace. Náutico grabbed a vital win over Barueri to lift them to 17th. The bottom two clubs though could only draw. Sport took a two goal lead inside 7 minutes at Avaí through Wilson and Luciano Henrique but they were pegged back Avaí. Marquinhos halved the defecit and Luis Ricardo salvaged a point. Fluminense grabbed what could be a vital point at Goiás after recovering from a two goal defecit. Iarley put Goiás ahead with only 5 minutes on the clock and Romerito doubled the lead 11 minutes later. Mariano halved the defecit 4 minute before half time and Ezequiel Gonzaléz grabbed the leveller 13 minutes into the second half.
In the mid table battles. Coritiba overcame Atlético-PR in the Curitiba derby. Coritiba's Ariel scored into both nets within two first half minutes, unfortunately he put the visitors ahead before levelling. Jeci then put Coritiba ahead on 68 minutes before Marcinho levelled 6 minutes later. It looked like honours were going to be even as the game went into injury time but Marcos Aurélio stunned Atlético-PR and claimed all three points for Coritiba. Corinthians season continues to fade away at as they slumped to a home defeat to Cruzeiro. Gilberto got the only goal of the game 4 minutes before half time and Fernandinho saw red for the visitos 15 minutes from time.
So three points seperate the top 5 places. The two form horses at the moment are Flamengo and Cruzeiro who lie 5th and 6th respectively. Palmeiras desperately need to find some form from somewhere whilst Atlético-MG could well be a good bet. It's all coming down to the wire and we're all at it again with a midweek round. Huge clash at the Engenhão as Botafogo play Náutico is a 6 pointer. It's 4th against 3rd at the Morumbi as the Champions entertain Internacional. Atlético-MG should dispose of Fluminense whilst Palmeiras entertain Goiás.
They line up as follows....
Botafogo x Náutico
Atlético Paranaense x Santos
Grêmio x Avaí
Cruzeiro x Santo André
Vitória x Corinthians
Barueri x Flamengo
São Paulo x Internacional
Fluminense x Atlético Miniero
Sport Recife x Coritiba
Palmeiras x Goiás
We'll be back later in the week with a round up of all these games.
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