Monday 26 September 2011

Brasileirão Petrobras - Week 26

Santos 2-3 Figueirense
Flamengo 2-1 América Mineiro
Atlético Paranaense 1-1 Fluminense
Corinthians 1-0 Bahia
Botafogo 2-2 São Paulo
Cruzeiro 0-3 Vasco da Gama
Avaí 1-2 Grêmio
Internacional 2-1 Atlético Mineiro
Atlético Goianiense 1-1 Palmeiras
Ceará 3-2 Coritiba

Santos were left stunned when Figueirense left the Vila with all three points on Saturday night. Julio Cesar put the visitors ahead with just eight minutes gone but Borges further extended his lead at the top of the scoring chart with the equaliser sixteen minutes later. The teams were only level for two minutes before Wellington Nem restored the Figueirense lead but Léo levelled things again on the stroke of half time. The visitors won it six minutes from time when Julio Cesar converted from the spot for his second of the night. The Premier Sports TV cameras were at the Engenhão as Flamengo finally got back to winning ways with success against América-MG. The visitors actually took the lead when Kempes converted from the spot with half an hour gone. Deivid's tenth goal of the season levelled matters just after the hour and when it looked like it would be another frustrating result for the Rubro-Negro, Thiago Neves struck at the second attempt with two minutes left to give Fla victory. Trouble at the Arena de Baixada as a controversial late decision denied Atlético-PR a vital victory over Fluminense. Paulo Baier put Atlético-PR ahead just beyond the hour but they were reduced to ten men with twenty to go when Rafael Santos was dismissed. Then in injury time came the controversial decision which saw Fluminense awarded and penalty and Pablo became the second Atlético-PR player to be sent off. Fred kept his composure in the chaos of the situation and slotted home the penalty to level matters. Then the real fun began as the Atlético-PR fans surrounded the tunnel and it was nearly ten minutes after the final whistle that referee Wagner Reway could leave the field of play under shields provided by the Military Police. This was after the military police had been waving rifles and wading into the Atlético-PR fans.

Corinthians climbed back into second after their first win in four games when they needed a single goal to see off Bahia in the Pacaembu. Emerson got the goal twelve minutes into the second half but blotted his copybook when he was sent off seven minutes from time. The Premier Sports TV cameras remained at the Engenhão for the big clash between Botafogo and São Paulo. Sebastian Abreu put Botafogo ahead with twenty-five minutes gone and his coolly taken penalty five minutes before the break doubled their lead. São Paulo got back into the game half way through the second half when Henrique halved the deficit and they stole a point in injury time when veteran Rivaldo struck. Vasco da Gama remain top when they cruised to victory in Sete Lagoas against Cruzeiro. Diego Souza put Vasco ahead six minutes before half time and he doubled the lead on the hour. Cruzeiro had Marquinhos Paraná sent off fifteen minutes from time before Diego Souza completed his hat trick nine minutes from time. Grêmio's away record isn't the best but they pulled away from the relegation zone after a third victory on the road this season at Avaí. Mário Fernandes put Grêmio ahead three minutes before the break and Douglas doubled the lead as people were still taking their seats for the second half. Avaí pulled a goal back twenty minutes from time through Pedro Ken and defeat leaves them seven points away from safety.

Internacional remain in the hunt for a Libertadores spot despite being without Leandro Damião when they defeated Atléico-MG at the Beira-Rio. Argentinian Mario Bolatti put Inter ahead with twenty six minutes gone but Atlético-MG, who are deep in relegation mire, levelled with twenty minutes to go when Renan Oliveira struck. Inter won it fifteen minutes from time when Fabricio got the winner but the game finished ten a side. Réver of Atlético-MG was the first to go thirteen minutes from time and he was joined by Rodrigo Moledo of Inter ten minutes later. Palmeiras are still waiting for a win despite finishing with a two man advantage over Atlético-GO at the Serra Dourada. Henrique put Palmeiras ahead half way through the first half and three minutes before the break Anderson became the first Atlético-GO player to be sent off. When Vítor Júnior followed just after the hour you would have expected Palmeiras to cruise home but the nine men of Atlético-GO levelled ten minutes from time through Thiago Feltri. And we finish as we started with a five goal thriller from the Castelão as Ceará defeated Coritiba. Roger put Ceará ahead with seven minutes gone but Bill levelled for Coritiba thirteen minutes later. Edmilson restored the Ceará lead six minutes before the break but a second from Bill three minutes after the break levelled matters again. Ceará got their winner half way through the scond half when Roger got his second of the game to give them their first win in eight.


No league games in midweek with the return leg of the Copa Roca alongside Copa Sudamericana action taking priority. Week 27 is next weekend and they line up like this with a couple of huge clashes thrown in for good measure:

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


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