Friday, 9 September 2011

Brasileirão Petrobras - Week 22

São Paulo 2-1 Atlético Mineiro
Botafogo 4-0 Ceará
Internacional 4-2 América Mineiro
Avaí 1-2 Santos
Atlético Paranaense 2-2 Palmeiras
Atlético Goianiense 1-1 Figueirense
Cruzeiro 1-2 Fluminense
Vasco da Gama 2-0 Coritiba
Bahia 1-2 Grêmio
Corinthians 2-1 Flamengo

São Paulo briefly went top of the table despite an under par performance which saw them overcome Atlético-MG at the Morumbi in Rogério Ceni's 1000th career game for the club. São Paulo got off to a flier inside the opening sixty seconds when the ball ricocheted to Lucas Silva for him to place the ball into the bet. Atlético-MG levelled through Réver headed them level from a corner with ten minutes gone. The locals weren't happy at half time but it took one moment of magic from Dagoberto to secure the winner seven minutes after the break when his long range effort flew past Renan Ribeiro. Atlético-MG finished the game with ten men after a poor Leonardo Silva challenge saw him given a straight red card. Botafogo were top of the table for most of Wednesday evening when they took Ceará to the cleaners at the Engenhão. German Herrera set them on their way with five minutes gone and Ceará were reduced to ten me two minutes before the break after Fabrício managed to pick up two yellow cards in the space of three minutes. A second for Herrera thirteen minutes after the break doubled the lead and Sebastian Abreu put the result beyond doubt eighteen minutes from time. Substitute Cidinho put the icing on the cake seven minutes from time when he got the Alvinegro's fourth on the night. A blistering opening fourteen minutes was enough to put Internacional on track for victory over América-MG. Rodrigo Moledo got the opener with three minutes gone and after scoring the Brazil winner in London on Monday night, fresh off the plane Leandro Damião doubled the lead five minutes later. Andres D'Alessandro got the third from the penalty spot with fourteen minutes gone but André Dias pulled a goal back for América-MG ten minutes later. Oscar restored the three goal Inter advantage ten minutes before half time but a minute later Kempes pulled another back for Ceará. The second half, rather than six goals saw five yellow cards instead.

Despite having two games in hand, Santos are technically still in relegation trouble at the momemt but took a great step to pulling away after victory over Avaí at a damp Recassada. Avaí took the lead when Willam converted from the spot, after one of the most ridiculous penalty decisions in a good while following a blatant dive from Lincoln, twelve minutes before the break. Série A leading scorer Borges levelled for Santos twenty minutes from time when he rounded the keeper to slot home his fifteenth goal of the season and substitute Felipe Anderson climbed off the bench to get the Santos winner thirteen minutes from time. Palmeiras took their draw tally to doubled figures for the season after they twice let the lead slip at the Arena de Baixada against Atlético-PR. Henrique put Palmeiras ahead with fifteen minutes gone but Atlético-PR levelled ten minutes before the break through Joffre Guerrón. A minute later Atlético-PR had Cléber Santana sent off and nine minutes after the break Fernandão restored the Palmeiras lead. The second Atlético-PR leveller came nineteen minutes from time when Marcinho converted from the spot. Atlético-GO had to come from behind to claim a point at home to Figueirense. Wellington Nem but the visitors ahead with eleven minutes gone but the lead lasted just four minutes when Agenor levelled for Atlético-GO. Fluminense aren't out of the title race yet and victory in Uberlândia against Cruzeiro will have the top four looking over their shoulder. Fred put the Tricolor ahead from the spot eleven minutes before the break and Marquino doubled the lead just after the hour. Walter Montillo's twelth goal of the season nineteen minutes from time gave Cruzeiro hope but Fluminense held on.

Vasco da Gama remain in third after repeating their Copa Kia do Brasil success over Coritiba. Captain Juninho Pernambucano set Vasco on their way with half an hour gone with a trade mark free kick from 35 yards out. Vasco doubled their lead ten minutes after the break when Rômulo headed home after a corner. Grêmio aren't noted for their ability to win away from Porto Alegre so victory in Bahia was on their second on the road this season. Brandão headed Grêmio ahead with half an hour gone and six minutes later Damien Escudero doubled the lead after a Brandão header had hit the post. Bahia got back in the game on the hour when Souza converted from the penalty spot but Grêmio held on to take all three points. The biggest game of the week was the final game at the Pacaembu between Corinthians and Flamengo. Corinthians went into the game after having lost top spot to São Paulo the night before and things got worse when Deivid was left unmarked at the back post to put Flamengo ahead with half an hour gone. The Corinthians equaliser just after the hour was straight from the Tony Pulis play book, a long throw was partially cleared by Flamengo and the ball dropped to Liédson who struck from twelve yards out with the help of a little deflection. It looked like Flamengo would be taking a point back to Rio with them but a minute from time Liédson was left unmarked in the box and he volleyed home a winner to put them back to the top of the table going into week 23.

The action continues this weekend with Week 23

Santos x Cruzeiro -  Live on Premier Sports TV Saturday 10pm
América Mineiro x Avaí
Palmeiras x Internacional
Fluminense x Corinthians - Live on Premier Sports TV Sunday 8pm
Ceará x Atlético Goianiense
Coritiba x Botafogo
Figueirense x Vasco da Gama
Flamengo x Atlético Paranaense
Grêmio x São Paulo
Atlético Mineiro x Bahia

Premier Sports TV is the home of the Brasileirão Petrobras in the UK
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