Monday 18 April 2011

Campeonato Paulista A1 - Week 19

Santos 3-0 Paulista
São Paulo 1-1 Oeste
Santo André 0-2 Corinthians
Ponte Preta 2-1 Palmeiras
Portuguesa 1-0 São Bernardo
Botafogo SP 3-0 Mirassol
Grêmio Prudente 1-0 Americana
São Caetano 0-2 Linense
Ituano 0-2 Noroeste
Bragantino 2-3 Mogi Mirim

The final week of the regular season saw joy for Portuguesa, Ituano and Linense with heartbreak for Noroeste, Santo André and São Bernardo as the final places were decided in the league table.

São Paulo finished top of the pile at the end of the regular season after their draw with Oeste was enough to see them overhaul Palmeiras who fell to a shock defeat at Ponte Preta in front of the Premier Sports TV cameras. In the Morumbi, Oeste stunned the home fans when they took the lead through Reinaldo de Sol six minutes before the break. Henrique levelled for São Paulo eighteen minutes from time as they waited for the news to come through from Ponte Preta. It had all started well for the Big Green when Max Pardalzinho put them ahead with twenty minutes on the clock but Ponte levelled five minutes later through Marcio Diogo. Ponte Preta got the winner fifteen minutes from time when Renatinho send them into the play-offs in good heart. Corinthians finished third in the table after the condemned Santo André to relegation after a 2-0 victory. Paulo André put Corinthians ahead with twenty-one minutes gone and Edno wrapped thing up to finish things off.

Santos blew Paulista away with two goals inside the opening two minutes at the Vila and Paulista missed out on their outside chance of making "The Eight". Maikon Leite and Alan Patrick with the goal that set Santos on their way and it was the former who wrapped things up with his second eleven minutes from time to see them finish in fourth. Mirassol will go into the play offs in mixed form after they fell to their second defeat in their last three games after they went down to Botafogo SP. Anselmo set Botafogo on the way with the opener ten minutes before the break and he doubled the lead twenty minutes into the second half. Anselmo then ensured he'd finish the season on a high when he completed his hat-trick two minutes later. Portuguesa claimed the last spot in "The Eight" when they left it late again to claim victory over São Bernardo and overtake São Caetano claim their place in the end of season fun and games. Last week Portuguesa scored in the 90th minute, this week they were a minute earlier when Ananias got the crucial goal. That goal had big repurcussions for São Bernardo as it dropped them to 17th place in the league into Série A2.

São Caetano were denied their place in "The Eight" when they were defeated at home by Linense. A result that ensured they would be in the top flight next season and a miracle escape. Éder Marcelo got the opening goal eight minutes after the break and he wrapped things up with a second six minutes from time. Noroeste were also relegated after they fell to a 2-0 defeat at Ituano, a result that allowed them to remain in the top flight for another year. Kleiton Domingues put Ituano ahead with half an hour gone and a penalty from Anderson Salles doubled the lead just after the hour. Already relegated Grêmio Prudente ensured they wouldn't finish bottom of the table as they exited Série A1 with a 1-0 victory over Americana. Alex Maranhão with the only goal of the game seven minutes before half time. The only meaningless game of the week also saw the most goals as Mogi Mirm were 3-2 winners at Bragantino. Geovane put Mogi Mirim ahead with ten minutes gone but Juninho Quixada levelled nine minutes before the break. Maizena restored the Mogi Mirm lead four minutes after the break but Bragantino hit back again when Paulo Roberto levelled on the hour. The Mogi Mirim winner came eleven minutes from time when Andres Baraka converted from the penalty spot.

The new style play offs begin next weekend and as with the Carioca these games are single elimination matches which go to penalties at the conclusion of 90 minutes if the games are all square. Coverage on Premier Sports TV is yet to be confirmed but they line up like this....

Santos x Ponte Preta (Saturday 2000 BST, Vila Belmiro)
Corinthians x Oeste (Saturday 2230 BST, Pacaembu)
São Paulo x Portuguesa (Sunday 2000 BST, Arena Barueri)
Palmeiras x Mirassol (Sunday 2230 BST, Pacaembu)

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