Vasco da Gama 3-3 Grêmio
Prudente 2-3 São Paulo
Corinthians 3-4 Atlético Goianiense
Botafogo 0-0 Palmeiras
Cruzeiro 1-0 Fluminense
Goiás 1-0 Vitória
Avaí 2-2 Flamengo
Internacional 1-0 Atlético Mineiro
Ceará 2-0 Guarani
Santos made it back to back wins as they leapfrogged over Atlético-PR in the table, ending the visitors seven game unbeaten run. Two goals within two second half minutes was enough ti give Santos the win, Maranhão put the home side ahead with 63 minutes on the clock and Zé Eduardo got the second to wrap up the win. Vasco da Gama are now unbeaten in four, but threw away all three points in a thrilling draw with Grêmio at the São Januário. On-loan striker Éder Luís put Vasco ahead with fifteen minutes on the clock but the Série A leading goalscorer Jonas levelled for Grêmio four minutes before the break. The home side went into half time ahead though, Cesinha scoring right on the break and when Felipe Bastos made it three half way through the second half it seemed Vasco were heading for victory. The old Grêmio of earlier in the season would have folded, but they fought back. A 19th of the season for Jonas halved the deficit and two minutes from time Gabriel earned Grêmio a point. Prudente are fast running out of games in their fight to beat the drop and defeat at home to São Paulo won't help matters. Ricardo Oliveira put São Paulo ahead with seven minutes on the clock but Wesley levelled for the home side just after the half hour. It was level for only a minute before a second for Oliveira restored the lead and he then completed his hat-trick just short of the hour to make it three. Prudente did pull a goal back courtesy of a second from Wesley in injury time but it turned out to be mere consolation.
No goals at the Engenhão as Botafogo made it a seven draws on the spin against Palmeiras. In the corresponding fixture last season the Alvinegro had cost the Big Green a Libertadores spot but saved themselves from possible relegation. El Loco Abreu missed an 8th minute penalty as Botafogo missed a bucket load of chances win. The dismissal of Palmeiras striker Kléber in injury time had little time to impact on the game. The biggest game of the weekend was at the Parque do Sabiá where Cruzeiro took over at the summit of the table after a 1-0 victory over previous leaders Fluminense. The Tricolor lost Deco to injury in the first half but they were already trailing to Wellington Paulista's 14th minutes strike before the former Chelsea player left the action. It would be a brave man now to bet against the title going to Belo Horizonte. Vitória dropped to the edge of the relegation zone after their fifth straight defeat, away at struggling Goiás. One goal was enough to separate the sides and that came 12 minutes from time from Bernardo. Victory leaves Goiás alive in the battle to beat the drop, the relegation battle could turn out to be more entertaining than the race for the title.
Avaí and Flamengo are two teams also in the midst of the relegation fight and it's the current champions who will be kicking themselves after throwing a two goal lead away in Florianópolis. Val Baiano made it consecutive games on the score sheet after his double strike had Flamengo two up inside the opening 17 minutes. Emerson pulled a goal back for Avaí eight minutes after the break and four minutes later Flamengo were reduced to ten men when Leo Moura was sent off. Two minutes later and the Avaí comeback was complete when Roberto's 7th of the season levelled. The game finished on a sour note as Avaí's Rudnei and David of Flamengo were sent off after clashing in injury time. Inconsistent Internacional kept up their recent win loss win record as they scraped past Atlético-MG at the Beira-Rio. One goal was enough to give the Libertadores champions victory and it came courtesy of Alecsandro a minute after the break. Inter though finished with 10 men, the goalscorer seeing red half way through the second half. Ceará's 2-0 victory over Guarani could be the one that could just about guarantee they will get a second season in the top flight. Two first half goals from Bernardo after fifteen minutes and Boiadeiro a minute before the break were enough to give Ceará all three points and see their unbeaten run extend to four games. Guarani now haven't won in four and could well be in the relegation mix come December.
Atlético-GO completed a remarkable league double over Corinthians after holding off a late charge to record victory at the Pacaembu. It looked like business as usual when Leandro Castan put Corinthians ahead with three minutes on the clock but what happened in the next hour stunned the home fans. Juninho levelled for Atlético-GO with 18 minutes gone and when Gilson put them ahead 7 minutes before the break you wondered what was going on. It got even better for Atlético-GO when Marcão made it three before the break and when Leandro Castan was sent off 12 minutes into the second half that seemed to be the game. The fork was out when a second for Marcão made it 4-1 twenty minutes into the second half but Corinthians rallied, William Morais reduced the deficit with twenty to go and Atlético-GO had a nervous last five minutes when Thiago Heleno reduced the gap to one but they held out to record a vital victory. The defeat was too much for Corinthians coach Adilson Batista who quit his post after the final whistle
Midweek sees the two outstanding games that were postponed from earlier in the season taking place. Internacional travel to the Vila Belmiro to take on Santos and Corinthians go to the São Januário to take on Vasco da Gama, desperate for a win to get their title challenge back on track.
Next weekend is Round 30 as we start the title and relegation run in and they line up like this. The San-São and Clássico 'Vovô' take place in this round but there are some crucial games at the wrong end of the table
Flamengo x Internacional
Atlético Paranaense x Goiás
Guarani x Corinthians
Atlético Mineiro x Avaí
Grêmio x Cruzeiro
Atlético Goianiense x Vasco da Gama
Vitória x Prudente
São Paulo x Santos
Palmeiras x Ceará
Fluminense x Botafogo
No comments:
Post a Comment