Copa Kia do Brasil Final 2nd Leg

Vitória 2-1 Santos
Santos wins 3-2 on aggregate

Santos clinched their spot in the 2011 Copa Santander Libertadores after lifting the Copa Kia do Brasil despite a 2-1 defeat at Vitória. After taking a two goal lead last week at the Vila Belmiro, Santos effectively killed the tie off a minute before half time when Edu Dracena beat Julián Viáfara in the Vitória goal. It was Viáfara who got Vitória back in the game 12 minutes after the break when his free kick beat Rafael.

José Junior then gave Vitória a lifeline 13 minutes from time when he put the home side ahead on the night and just a goal behind on aggregate. Santos managed to hold on and claim their first Copa do Brasil title and the golden ticket to the Libertadores. It's also a second title of the year for Santos to go along with their Campeonato Paulista success in May.

Copa Kia do Brasil Final 1st Leg

Santos 2-0 Vitória

At the Vila Belmiro on Wednesday night Santos put one foot in the 2011 Copa Libertadores after a 2-0 victory over Vitória in the first leg of the Copa Kia do Brasil final. With his loan spell due to expire next week, Santos took the opportunity to field Robinho before either extending his loan or sending him back to Manchester. In an open game, with many chances for both sides the only goal of the half came after 14 minutes from Neymar, who got on the end of Para's cross.

Neymar had a chance to double the Santos lead 17 minutes from time. After being awarded a penalty after being fouled by Wallace, Neymar tried to be clever and loft his penalty into the net but the Vitória keeper didn't move and easily caught the ball. Santos though, managed to get a cushion for the second leg 7 mintues from time when Marquinhos shot found the back of the net.

The second leg takes place next week.

Copa Kia do Brasil Semi Final 2nd Legs

Vitória 4-0 Atlético Goianiense
Vitória wins 4-1 on aggregate
Santos 3-1 Grêmio
Santos wins 6-5 on aggregate

Vitória qualified for it's first ever final appearence in the Copa do Brasil after overcoming a single goal deficit to defeat Atlético-GO. Uelliton levelled the tie on aggregate with 30 minutes on the clock and two minutes later José Junior put Vitória two up on the night and ahead on aggregate. The score remained unchanged until a minute from time when a second from José Junior put the tie beyond doubt. Márcio Gabriel was then sent off for Vitória and Julian Viáfara wrapped things up five minutes into injury time.

Santos also qualified for their first final after overcoming a single goal defecit against Grêmio. The deadlock on the night was broken six minutes into the second half with a rasper from Paulo Henrique Ganso. Robinho then put Santos ahead on aggregate with a cheeky lob twenty minutes from time but suddenly Grêmio were level on aggregate through Rafael Marques. Santos still led on away goals and confirmed their final spot through Wesley five minutes from time. Then the stupidity of it all, Santos defender Edu Dracena and Grêmio striker Jonas were sent off for fighting each other and Grêmio goalscorer Marques was dismissed for a second yellow card.

The final will not take place after the World Cup. The first leg is in Santos on July 29, the return a week later on August 5.

Copa Kia do Brasil Semi Final 1st Legs

Vitória 0-1 Atlético Goianiense
Grêmio 4-3 Santos

Atlético-GO took a valuable semi final lead in the Copa Kia do Brasil after a stunning away victory at Vitória. The newly promoted side are on the brink of a final appearance after a Rodrigo Tiuí goal ten minutes after half time gave them victory. Meanwhile the other semi final could go any way after a goal fest at the Olímpico Monumental. Santos are favourites to win this competition and started strongly as two goals from André put them in control in the opening twenty minutes against Grêmio. The hosts though stunned the visitors with four goals inside 17 second half minutes. Borges reduced the defecit on 58 minutes and his second six minutes later levelled matters. Jonas then put Grêmio ahead midway through the second half and when Borges completed his hat trick with fifteen minutes to go the Tricolor were in the driving seat. Santos though pressed for a way back into the game and pulled a goal back seven minutes from time through Robinho to make an interesting return next week at the Vila Belmiro.

The return legs take place next Wednesday night. We suspect both games will be available live and online through various online betting sites. CONMEBalls recommends Bet365.com.

Copa Kia do Brasil Quarter Final 2nd Legs

Vasco da Gama 3-1 Vitória
Agg 3-3 Vitória advances on away goals
Santos 3-1 Atlético Miniero
Santos advances 5-4 on aggregate
Atlético Goianiense 1-0 Palmeiras
Agg 1-1 Atlético-GO advances 2-1 on penalties
Grêmio 2-0 Fluminense
Grêmio advances 5-2 on aggregate

Vasco's brave attempt to overcome a two goal defecit was denied as Vitória qualified for the semi finals on away goals despite a 3-1 defeat at the São Januário. Vasco halved the aggregate lead when Magno put them ahead after 12 mintues but the crucial goal came after 27 minutes when Julian Viáfara converted from the penalty spot. Vasco were left needing to win by three clear goals and Ramon got a second for Vasco just short of the hour. When Carlos Alberto levelled the tie on aggregate from the spot with 12 minutes to go you wondered if the comeback was on but Vitória held on to qualify for the semi-final. Santos overturned a single goal defecit to progress after a 3-1 win over Atlético-MG at the Vila Belmiro. André levelled the tie on aggregate after 17 minutes and Neymar edged Santos two ahead a minute before half time. Atlético-MG immediately replied through Corrêa to level the tie but they still needed to score again. Wesley restored the two goal advantage for Santos four minutes after the break and it was enough to see them home.

The year for Palmeiras just goes from bad to worse after they were eliminated by Atlético-GO on penalties after losing the game 1-0 in regulation. The only goal came twenty minutes from time from Marcão and with the tie level it went to a penalty competition. Atlético-GO held their nerve to win the penalty competition 2-1 and progress to a semi final appearance. Fluminense were already facing an uphill task after defeat in the first leg last week. Going to Fortress Grêmio was never going to be an easy task and it too much for Flu. Hugo put Grêmio ahead on the hour and Jonas wrapped things up six minutes later.

The semi-final draw was made on Thursday afternoon, ties will be played on 12th and 19th May

Atlético Goianiense x Vitória
Grêmio x Santos

Copa Kia do Brasil Quarter Final 1st Legs

Vitória 2-0 Vasco da Gama
Atlético Mineiro 3-2 Santos
Palmeiras 1-0 Atlético Goianiense
Fluminense 2-3 Grêmio

The field has been whittled down from the 64 teams that started out in the competition in early February as the 8 remaining clubs chase a place in next years Copa Santander Libertadores.

Vasco da Gama, beaten semi finalists last year, will have a mountain to climb after their 2-0 defeat at Vitória. Renato put Vitória ahead six minutes before half time and Neto Berola doubled the lead six minutes from the end. Last seasons joint top scorer in Série A, Diego Tardelli, is a man in form ahead fo the Campeonato starting after his hat trick put Atlético-MG in charge against Santos. After Tardelli had put Atlético two up the boy wonder Robinho pullede one back a minute before half time. Tardelli completed his hat trick and restored the two goal lead two minutes after the break but Santos are still in the tie after Edu Dracena struck eight minutes from time.

Now as regular readers of the blog know, Palmeiras have been going through the mill at the moment. But they are still in with a shout of the Copa Brasil and they will take a lead into their second leg encounter against Atlético-GO. The Série A new boys made life difficult for O Verdão but an injury time penalty from Cleiton Xavier gave Palmeiras a slender advantage. Fluminense, under new manager Muricy Ramalho, went down to defeat to Grêmio in the Maracanã. André Lima put Flu ahead with 12 minutes on the clock but Douglas levelled eight minutes later and Jonas put the visitors ahead on the half hour. A second for Douglas doubled the Grêmio lead with 18 minutes to go but Ezequiel González pulled a goal back for Fluminense to give them hope for the second leg and avoid succesive elimination at this stage.

The return legs take place next week.