Friday 14 October 2011

Brasileirão Petrobras - Week 29

São Paulo 0-0 Internacional
Grêmio 1-3 Figueirense
Avaí 2-2 Atlético Goianiense
América Mineiro 4-1 Ceará
Corinthians 0-2 Botafogo
Flamengo 1-1 Palmeiras
Bahia 0-0 Cruzeiro
Fluminense 3-1 Coritiba
Atlético Mineiro 2-1 Santos
Atlético Paranaense 2-2 Vasco da Gama

No goals at the Morumbi as São Paulo's title challenge faltered again against Internacional. It was a missed opportunity for São Paulo to get further into the title shake up while alse stalling a late run at a Libertadores spot for Inter. Grêmio fell to a fourth home defeat of the season as Figueirense all but guaranteed their spot in the top flight for next year after a 3-1 victory in the Olímpico. Aloisio put the visitors ahead twelve minutes before the break and the home fans were stunned further three minutes later when Elias doubled the lead. Grêmio got back into the game halfway through the second half when Edcarlos scored but Wellington Nem restored the two goal Figueirense cushion sixteen minutes from time. Avaí's fight against relegation continues but they needed a late late goal in order to salvage a point against Atlético-GO. It all started well for the home side when William put them ahead with seventeen minutes gone but they were behind by half time. Anselmo with the equaliser ten minutes before the break before the go ahead goal from Vítor Júnior six minutes later. Atlético-GO had Agenor sent off fifteen minutes from time and Avaí salvaged a point when William kept his cool to convert from the spot in the final minute. Bottom of the table América-MG picked up only their fourth, and biggest, win of the season when they took Ceará to the cleaners in Sete Lagoas. Fábio Júnior put América-MG ahead with twenty four minutes gone but it took until the midway point of the second half to double their lead when substitute Rodriguinho struck. Gilson made it three for América-MG eleven minutes from time but another substitute Felipe Azevedo pulled a goal back three minutes later. América-MG were not to be denied and got the fourth goal their performance deserved from Leo in injury time.

Going top of the league seems to be a curse for Corinthians as they fell to defeat against Botafogo at the Pacaembu. Uruguayan talisman Sebastian Abreu put Botafogo ahead with eleven minutes gone and Maicosuel doubled the lead just after the half hour. Despite having Bruno Cortês sent off after an hour Botafogo held on and now lie just two points behind Corinthians in the standings. Meanwhile back at the Engenhão, Flamengo remain within touching distance of the title despite letting a lead slip against Palmeiras. After a score less first half Flamengo took the lead ten minutes after the break when Thiago Neves got his seventh of the season. Palmeiras, whose preparation for the game had been over shadowed after João Vítor had been attacked by fans the day before, levelled eight minutes later through Maikon Leite. The fall out from the Vítor incident will rumble on as Kléber will be unlikely to play for the club again after falling out with the directors over the handling of the incident. The final game on Wednesday night finished goal less in Salvador as Cruzeiro did little to help their current relegation plight against Bahia. The point keeps Bahia eight points clear of the drop zone while Cruzeiro will be looking nervously over their shoulders.

Fluminense's late charge to retain their title gathered momentum again on Thursday night when they defeated Coritiba at the Engenhão. After much speculation about his future in the Seleção Fred answered his critics with a match winning hat trick. He put the Tricolor ahead with twenty four minutes gone but they were pegged back on the stroke of half time by Marcos Aurélio. The former Olympique Lyonnais striker restored the Fluminense advantage eighteen minutes from time before completing the scoring three minutes later. Atlético-MG moved to within touching distance of safety after they defeated nine man Santos in Sete Lagoas. Réver put Atlético-MG ahead with just six minutes on the clock but they were pegged back four minutes after the break when the Série A leading scorer Borges converted from the spot. Santos has Crystian sent off in the incident that let to Magno Alves penalty which won the game and then Neymar was sent off six minutes from time for a second bookable offence. After the Corinthians slip up the previous night, Vasco da Gama blew their chance to back top of the table. They also had to come from a two goal deficit at the Arena de Baixada against Atlético-PR. Paulo Baier put the home side ahead with fifteen minutes gone and the Ecuadorian Joffre Guerron doubled the lead eight minutes later. Elton halved the Atlético-PR lead midway through the second half and his second rescued a point for Vasco eight minutes from time. Corinthians now remain top of the table by virtue of games won.

This weekend is Round 30 and they line up like this:

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

Premier Sports TV is the home of the Brasileirão Petrobras in the UK Coming soon to Premier Sports TV, 10 live games a week from the NHL You can subscribe at www.premiersports.tv or by calling 0871 663 9000



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