Monday 10 May 2010

Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Week 1

Botafogo 3-3 Santos
Atlético Goianiense 0-0 Grêmio
Palmeiras 1-0 Vitória
Flamengo 1-1 São Paulo
Atlético Miniero 2-1 Vasco da Gama
Internacional 1-2 Cruzeiro
Corinthians 2-1 Atlético Paranaense
Ceará 1-0 Fluminense
Guarani 1-0 Goiás
Avaí 6-1 Prudente

Goals aplenty at the Engenhão at the Carioca and Paulista champions served up a six goal thriller to open up season. O Fogão were ahead through Antônio Carlos with only eight minutes on the clock but Neymar levelled on the half hour and three minutes later André put Santos into the lead but a second from Antônio Carlos right on half time levelled matters. Zé Eduardo restored the Santos lead with 10 minutes to go but German Herrera grabbed a deserved equaliser two minutes from time as Santos player Alex Sandro saw red in injury time. Atlético-GO gained a point on their top flight bow against a Grêmio side which needs to cure it's travel sickness problem if they are to have any chance of doing anything in the competition this year. Despite the bagging we gave them in the preview Palmeiras opened with a win against Vitória at the Palestra Itália. After Wallace was sent off for Vitória on the hour, Lincoln grabbed a winner for the O Verdão 12 minutes from time.

The clash of the previous two champions at the Maracanã failed to live up to expectations as a poor game saw Flamengo and São Paulo share the points. After Rogerio Céni had hit the post with a free kick, Washington put São Paulo ahead just before half time. Flamengo though started the second half strongly and grabbed a leveller five minutes after half time through Dênis Marques. It seemed both sides had one eye on midweek Libertadores committmemtnts. Vasco's return to the big time ended in disappointment after a slow start saw them go down to Atlético-MG in Belo Horizonte. Ricardinho put Atlético-MG ahead after only 9 minutes and Muriqui doubled the lead ten minutes later. Elton pulled a goal back ten minutes into the second half but Vasco couldn't find an equalizer. In another clash of Libertadores contenders Cruzeiro stunned the Beira-Rio to grab a vital win against Internacional. Kléber put Cruzeiro ahead from the spot with only four minutes on the clock but Taison levelled three minutes later. A second from Kléber nine minutes before half time turned out to be the winner.

Corinthians had to come from behind to defeat 9-man Atlético-PR. Despite having Paulo Baier sent off after 41 minutes Atlético-PR went ahead on the stroke of half time through Wagner Diniz. Souza levelled for Corinthians on the hour before Neto became the second Atlético-PR player to be sent off. The nine men couldn't hang on and Ronaldo won the game for Corinthians seven mintues from time. The big winners of the weekend were Avaí who thumped 9-man Prudente 6-1 in Florinapólis. Emerson put Avaí ahead with ten minutes gone but Willian José levelled with 26 minutes gone. Paulão was the first to see red nine minutes before half time and a second from Emerson edged Avaí ahead just before half time. There was still enough time left in the half for Carlos Eduardo to get his marching orders and with a 2 man second half advantage Avaí ran riot. Roberto made it three in the 53nd minute before a doubled for Caio further extended the lead. Emerson completed his hat-trick in the last minute to put Avaí top of the table in these early days.

Two of the promoted clubs both opened up life in the top flight with victories. Ceará opened up their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Fluminense in a game that finished ten a side. Flu's Cássio was the first to see red after 33 mintues and four minutes later the vital goal came from a disputed Geraldo penalty. Ceará held on to their victory with the only blot the dismissal of Heleno in injury time. Meanwhile Guarani also gained an opening day win at home to Goiás. The only goal came twenty minutes from time from Mazola. It made it a decent opening day for the majority of the promoted clubs.

This is how the line up for Week 2 which takes place next weekend after midweek Libertadores and Copa do Brasil commitments.

Fluminense x Atlético Goianiense
Prudente x Atlético Miniero
Vitória x Flamengo
São Paulo x Botafogo
Grêmio x Corinthians
Goiás x Internacional
Santos x Ceará
Vasco da Gama x Palmeiras
Cruzeiro x Avaí
Atlético Paranaense x Guarani

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