Copa do Brasil 08: Palmeiras Humilated; Corinthians Moves On
By: Bruno Romani |
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I don’t know to what extent doing well in the state championships can be good for clubs. Palmeiras is the virtual champion in São Paulo and last night fought for a spot in the quarter-finals of Copa do Brasil. The green team has been getting a lot of attention from the media and nice words from commentators. Sport, who is the champion in Pernambuco, could not care less. After the 0-0 in the first-leg in São Paulo, Sport humiliated Palmeiras with a sound 4-1. Midfielder Romerito got his hat-trick. At the end of the match, Luxemburgo was mad. Normal reaction from someone, like Brazilian journalist Juca Kfouri says, who makes a lot of money for winning just state championship.
Goals: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72D5HOaAEPM
On the other hand, Corinthians played in old-school fashion against Goiás last night. Nobody believed the “timão” could reverse the 3-1 of the first leg. 5o thousand fans showed up, and the first-half ended with a 3-0. The final score was 4-0, and surprisingly Corinthians is in the quarter-finals of Copa do Brasil. Not bad for who just got relegated.
Goals: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sb6d6gfjZT8
This is what the quarter finals look like:
Corinthians x São Caetano
Vasco x Corinthians-AL
Internacional x Sport
Atlético-MG x Botafogo
Tags: Ronaldo Caught With Travestites - Oh no!
By: Bruno Romani | 7 Comments
I don’t even know how to start this one.
Ronaldo, yes - that one, is being accused by the travestite André Luis Ribeiro, AKA Andréa Albertine, for not paying for his/her services. The travestite went to the police, where later Ronaldo was invited to give his version of the happenings. He says he/she is just trying to get his money.
According to Andre’s version, the forward took her to a motel after confusing her with a prostitute. At the hotel, he asked for another 2 prostitutes. After realizing where he was getting into( and here I ask you to imagine his face after touching her special package), he dismissed them and gave a thousand reais each. Andre asked for 50 thousand. He/she showed at the police station with documents that belong to Ronaldo and images of the forward with them.
great way to recover a injured knee! Look at his/her pics and tell me if this looks like at all like an woman. And if does, what a down for someone who is known for hot wives and girfriends:
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS FINALS: Half-way done!
By: Bruno Romani | Add Comments
The finals of all major state leagues in Brazil are under way. The first-legs were played this Sunday. Some results were expected, such as the one in São Paulo. Others were complete surprises, like the one in Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul. In Rio and Paraná things cannot be predicted yet.
São Paulo
Palmeiras were the super favorites, and the final score could be no different. In Campinas, home of Ponte Preta, Kléber scored with a header the goal that almost ensured the title to the green team. Next week, Palmeiras can even lose by a 1 goal difference and still it will lift its first division trophy in the century. You will be able to check everything in the Palmeiras blog. (Interesting to see how blogs of Brazilian clubs appear in the Offside only when those clubs are doing well).
Goal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9AdSCip4fY
Rio de Janeiro
Flamengo and Botafogo were face-to-face again after the controversial matches that decided the first half of this tournament. Flamengo won the first-half. Botafogo managed to win the second, and now more drama is expected. Joel Santana wants to leave the Mengo before taking the job as the coach of South Africa. And he is half way there. Obina, beloved by fans as an cult player, scored the only goal of the match.
Goal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw2AjL7ncUU
Minas Gerais
The most surprising result happened in Minas Gerais. Yesterday, Cruzeiro learned a lesson: revenge is sweet. And it takes long for it to happen. An year after losing the local championship to rivals Atlético-MG with an humiliated 4-0, Cruzeiro got their two hands on the trophy with an sound 5-0.
Goals: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvc3tWfCHBs&feature=related
Rio Grande do Sul
The match seemed to ready for the 0-0 in Caxias do Sul. In the last minute, Juventude proved again it ALWAYS beats Internacional. With a header, the locals jumped ahead in the finals of Rio Grande do Sul’s state championship.
Parana
The biggest local derby, Atletico and Coritiba, was back to the headlines. And Coritiba won 2-0.
Category: TournamentsThe Day Brazil Lost of One of Its Greatest Young Talents
By: Bruno Romani | Add Comments
Before Ronaldinho and Robinho existed, he already showed on the pitch a diverse repertoire of dribbles and beautiful plays. He used to say that he preferred a dribble to the goal.
Before Rivaldo and Ronaldo were thinking of winning the award for the best player on Earth, he was already one of the greatest promises of Brazilian football in many years. And I remember saying at the time for the dismay of many that the line-up for the national squad in the 94 World Cup should have him along with Romario and Bebeto. His name is Denner, midfielder who played for Portuguesa, Grêmio and Vasco.
But before we could see the rewards for his talent, a car accident took him away from us at the age of 22. Since that April 19th of 1994,I still find myself thinking what could’ve been if the world had seen Dener. He could’ve been easily the best player in the world.
He was of the greatest jewels Portuguesa ever had. He also brought some skills to the tough football of Rio Grande do Sul by spending 6 months at Grêmio. When he died, he was on a loan from Portuguesa to Vasco. The night before his accident, he was in talks with officials of Stuttgart. Vasco was in the final of the state league, and the title was entirely dedicated to him. Replacing Dener in that final, a youngster named Jardel went to the pitch and scored the two goals of the title. But that’s another story.
After his death, his family lived through harsh financial times, thanks to a stalemate involving the officials of Vasco and Portuguesa who both refused to pay for his life insurance. Only recently Vasco was ordered to pay that. But there’s no money will ever pay for this wasted talent.
Dener, we miss you.
videos. You gotta whatc for yourselves.
Plays: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plftq_X64u0
Goals: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kj97HhsRbZs&feature=related
Great Goals: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQ1Jf1XBz7g&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJBrKBJNn_s&feature=related
Dener at Gremio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7u3FN_-5R8&feature=related
The Day of his Death: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YW9FmXehQd8&NR=1
Vasco fans Say Good-Bye to Dener in the Final of Campeonato Carioca: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7GMmz1q1-I&feature=related
Final Vasco x Fluminense dedicated to Dener: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHuZur8LM2g
Category: PlayersIn a Heart Stopping Fashion, Santos Advances in Copa Libertadores
By: Bruno Romani | Add Comments
One of the oldest sayings in football is the influence the weight of particular jersey may have in the finals core of a match. If in 08 we’re still talking about it, that may hold some truth. In Copa Libertadores, the weight of a jersey makes the difference. Last week, Flamengo showed that it may take more than a few thousand meters above sea level to get the rubro-negro defeated. On Wednesday, it was Santos’ turn to remind us the power of that white jersey.
Santos was playing at home against Cucutá from Colombia. The locals needed a simple victory to advance to the round of 16 of the most difficult continental tournament of the world. The problem is that with 20 minutes into the match, the visitors opened the score. Tension at Vila Belmiro. The first-half ended with Santos losing and with Chivas, the other team fighting for the spot on the next stage, winning 2-0.
The second-half started and the home team seemed nervous. The ball refused to get in the goal. With 20 minutes, however, Kléber Pereira tied. 25 minutes left. The game advanced. 2 players, one from each side, were ejected. Fábio Costa saved Santos. Coach Leão was ejected. The match seemed doomed to a tie. It smelled like another script for failure at home. That is when the white jersey spoke out loud. With two minutes left, the ball hit the crossbar of Cucutá and found Argentinean Trípodi to ensure the come back in the match and the ticket to the next stage. Santos 2-1!
Other Clubs
The best Brazilian club in the torunament, Cruzeiro was defeated by the altitude of Bolivia. At 4 thousand meters above sea level, Real Potosi won 5-1. Impressive the distortion. But I do not back any propositions of stopping matches up there.
Already qualified, Fluminense beat LDU 1-0 at home. Flu is doing well this season.
Adriano Uses His Hand to Put São Paulo Closer to the Final
By: Bruno Romani | 1 Comment
The first-leg of the semi-finals of the Paulista Championship had the touch of the Emperor. Adriano helped São Paulo to beat favorite Palmeiras 2-1 scoring twice. His second goal was a typical “Adriano run over” with a powerful shot. Nothing new.
However, the hand of the emperor could be felt literally at Morumbi. Before the 10th minute, Jorge Wágner crossed the ball and Adriano scored using his hand. At the end of the match, he confessed using his hand and mentioned Maradona to say that this wasn’t the first time and it won’t be the last someone uses the hand to visit the net. Honestly, Adriano should claim a spot in the brilliant volleyball squad Brazil is putting together for the Olympics.
Palmeiras spent the rest of the match trying to score, but a resurrected tricolor defense allowed few spaces. The second-leg will be played next Sunday, and Palmeiras needs a simple victory to move on to the finals. It will be thrilling!
HIGHLIGHTS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PV1l-u30wI4 (the hand is 15 secs, but do a favor to yourself and watch everything!)
Ponte Preta x Guaratinguetá
The other Paulista semi-final put the two small clubs face-to-face. Ponte Preta won 1-0 and now plays for a draw next weekend.
Minas Gerais
The big clubs had real difficulty in the semifinals of the local championship. Cruzeiro tied 4-4 with Ituiutaba ( I’d love to see my American audience reading this name) and Atlético beat Tupi 3-2.
Rio Grande do Sul
With 10 men since the 25th mark, Inter beat Caxias in the very last minute through midfielder Alex. This guy has been playing very well.
Until When Will Brazil Survive in Copa Libertadores?
By: Bruno Romani | Add Comments
Copa Libertadores is difficult and hard to predict.
On Wednesday, Santos visited Chivas after the impressive 7-0 against San Jose. A victory was going to send Santos to the next stage. But the club lost, 3-2, and now needs a simple victory against Cucuta at home. Not easy.
Fluminense took on eliminated Arsenal in Argentina. In Rio, Flu beat the rivals 6-0. The fans expected another victory and one of the best campaigns of the tournament. But Flu managed to lose 2-0. The perfect campaign, with all the possible advantages, may have slipt away.
Like Santos, Sao Paulo visited Audax Italiano in Chile for a victory that granted the ticket for the next round. But the tricolor lost 1-0, and now a victory against Atletico Nacional at home is mandatory if the club wishes to fight for the 4th continental title. Not easy at all.
And Flamengo, after all the bitching about the altitude, visited Cienciano. Not only that, Mengao got a 3-0 and kept their chances in the tournament. Nobody expected that.
Category: TournamentsUnkown Goalie Makes The Life of Grêmio Hell
By: Bruno Romani | 1 Comment
After the shocking elimination in the state championship last weekend, fans of Grêmio had a big blow tonight in Copa do Brasil. At home, the club faced Atlético-GO, a team without any tradition in national tournaments, after losing 2 – 1 last week. The fans showed up. Grêmio has tons of tradition in Copa do Brasil. With five minutes, Roger from the spot scored for the locals.
With 20 minutes, however, good luck changed sides. Keep Márcio, in a Rogério Ceni moment, took a free-kick and scored a beautiful goal. The name of the match started to emerge.
In the second-half, Grêmio managed to score another goal. The spot in the round of 16 was going to be decided in the penalty shoot-outs. Keeper Márcio denied Tadeu. And he also took the fourth penalty. The final score was 4-3 for Atlético, shaking things for Grêmio. Fans chanted “Good-bye Celso” to coach Celso Roth.
The first semester was cut short for Grêmio. Now they wait for Campeonato Brasileiro to start.
The image of the night:
Other scores
Corinthians-AL 4 x 1 Paranavaí - The other Corinthians is in. Aggregate of 5 - 1
Coritiba 0 x 0 São Caetano - Down to 9 players, Sao Caetano held on to the draw and qualified. Beautiful!
Botafogo 2 x 0 River-PI - After losing, Botafogo showed its tradition at home
Atlético-MG 4 x 1 Nacional-AM - Home team sent away any surprises
Sport 4 x 1 Brasiliense-DF - Sport showing strengh at home
Semi-Finals in São Paulo Are Ready. Corinthians is Out!
By: Bruno Romani | 1 Comment
For another year, the Paulista Championship will have a small club in the finals, proving once again how difficult this tournament is. The semi-finals will be Guaratinguetá x Ponte Preta and Palmeiras x São Paulo. The last round of the group stage was thrilling as Corinthians and Barueri fought for a spot in the semis.
In order to make to the semi-finals, both clubs counted on Santos to beat Ponte Preta. With that, Corinthians needed a simple victory against Noroeste. Barueri ont only needed the victory against Palmeiras, but also needed Noroeste to beat Corinthians. São Paulo took on Juventus for a draw. Palmeiras and Guará sough the first place. The leaders took on Ituano.
The matches started. With 10 minutes, Santos scored through Kléber Pereira. Corinthians was in and Ponte out. 20 minutes later, almost at the same time, Noroeste scored. Corinthians was out. Ponte tied through Luis Ricardo. Really, Corinthians was out. In the meantime, Adriano scored for São Paulo, once again with a header, his fourth goal in 3 matches.
At the end of the first-halves, Andre Santos took a foul and tied for Corinthians. That didn’t solve things for the timão. There was also time for goal-keeper Rogério Ceni take a penalty, scored his first goal of the season, and increased São Paulo’s advantage.
The second-half started and Palmeiras scored through Léo Lima, but at at that point Guará was beating Ituano 1 – 0. Barueri had a penalty. Marcos, the experient keeper denied it. Moments later, Alex Mineiro scored the second goal for the green team. In São Paulo, Borges scored for the locals, ensuring São Paulo in the semi-finals. The goal Juventus scored 4 minutes later did not make a difference. 3-1 for São Paulo was the final score.
The matches of Corinthians and Santos were the only ones that mattered. Ponte Preta had free-kick. Renato took it and Ponte came back. Corinthians was out. Ituano scored against Guará, making at that point the semi-finals: Guará x São Paulo and Palmeiras x Ponte.
In Bauru, Finazzi brought some hope to Corinthians’ fans. Happiness lasted 2 minutes. Edylton tied with a beautiful volley. Drama for Corinthians. Guaratinguetá scored the second. The 2 -1 was the final score, and Guará granted the first place.
Diego Souza gave final numbers to the match in Barueri. Palmeiras 3 – 0. The second spot was granted.
With 5 minutes left, Corinthians’ destiny was determined. Leandrinho scored for Noroeste. The 3 -2 eliminated Corinthians. The goal Renatinho scored for Santos, making 2-2, went unnoticed.
Corinthians finishes in 7th its first competition after last year’s relegation. Copa do Brasil is the only tournament left over for Corinthians to be among the big clubs. Série B waits for the club.
Next weekend Guara and Ponte and Palmeiras and São Paulo will fight for a spot in the finals.
The four clubs relegated in the championship were: Rio Claro, Rio Preto, Sertãozinho and Juventus.
Other State Championships
So far, everything very predictable. But for one match. And this deserves a few words. In Rio Grande do Sul, Grêmio had an impressive campaign. This afternoon, the club took won Juventude, a rival who historically loses when facing Grêmio, for a spot in the semi-finals. Juventude surprised with a 3 -2 victory, eliminating Grêmio at home. Shame.
Category: TournamentsFirst Anniversary of Brazil at the Offside!
By: Bruno Romani | 6 Comments
Thank you so much for the support. A year ago, i wrote Bob bitching about the lack of material on Brazilian football. He replied back asking me if I could take the position. Luckly for him, I’m a journalist. And i was unemployed. At the time, I had an average of 1 thousand visitors monthly. Now it’s much more than that. And the money I’m making is impressive.
I also thank a couple of naked ladies who appeared here (attracking mobs of sex deprived Polish), bizarre stories of the lower divisions of Brazilian football, and you dear reader.
Expect much more this year.
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