São Paulo Reaches the Top

By: Bruno Romani | August 6th, 2007

It took a few weeks, but the Brasileirão has a new leader. São Paulo visited Grêmio in Porto Alegre, revisiting the clash of this year’s Copa Libertadores, trying to reach the first spot. This time the tricolor paulista imposed a defeat to Grêmio and, benefited by the 0-0 draw in the match between Paraná and Botafogo, became the new leader. São Paulo took the lead with only 3 minutes into the game through Borges. The match followed very slow, as if the cold weather were cutting the bones of each player. They all seemed to be playing with metal balls chained to their legs, which benefited São Paulo’s defense, the best of the tournament, against the tournament’s worst attack. Very few chances were created in the first half, and just glimpses of thrill appeared in the second-half. When Grêmio did create something, Rogério Ceni was there to ensure São Paulo the first spot. With 2 minutes left, Diego Tardelli, who had left the bench 1 minute earlier, stole a ball in the midfield, and conducted it until he fired it into the net of keeper Saja.

On Saturday, Corinthians won its match agains Goiás. You read right! After 10 matches, Corinthians got an anemic 1-0 playing at the Morumbi, through Clodoaldo. The good news for Timão is that Vampeta had his comeback, bringing some good passes to the midfield sector and experience to guide the group of youngsters who have the responsibility of saving Corinthians from relegation.

Rio x São Paulo
The Rio-São Paulo battle of the weekend had the paulista sides as the winners. Palmeiras visited Fluminense at the Maracanã and won by 1-0. The Chilean Valdívia, after a pass by Edmundo, dribbled the goalie and pushed the ball into the net. The MVP of the afternoon was keeper Diego Cavaglieri, who made difficult saves and denied a penalty taken by forward Somália. After the match, Fluminense’s coach Renato Gaúcho complained a lot, saying that Fluminense is getting stolen in every game.

A coach who has no excuses, but whose words resonated this weekend is Flamengo’s Joel Santana. In his debut, he visited Santos at the Vila Belmiro and was destroyed by Luxemburgo’s side. Pedrinho, Marcos Aurélio and Kléber, from a free-kick, scored for Santos. Mr. Santana, a person who seems to be a very good companion for a beer and fried shrimp at some cheap bar, was caught on camera giving orders to his players of hitting and injuring Santos players. Now, while Flamengo remains in the relegation zone, he also may be suspended.

Sul x Minas
The two sides from Minas Gerais also had a 100% success rate against the sides of Rio Grande do Sul. Atlético-MG visited the fading Juventude, whose relegation seems to be a matter of time. Danilinho and Lúcio gave the visitors a 2-0 lead still on the first-half. The locals closed the gap with Eber with only 2 minutes left.

In its first match without Alexandre Pato, Inter visited Cruzeiro and suffered. Cruzeiro, without Araújo, took advantage of the space Inter’s defense conceded and scored three goals without problems. The third by Alecsandro, who was returning from Portugal, was the easiest goal of the weekend. He had time and space to took, think, choose and hit the ball. It was so easy that even his celebration was shy. Inter tried a late reaction, scoring two goals in two minutes, but there was not time left. Cruzeiro moved to the 4th spot wuth the 3-2 victory.

Other matches

Sport and Atlético-PR collided in Recife. Great match. Dinei and Marcelo put Atlético in advantage in the first-half, but Sport wasn’t dead. From the very first minute in the second-half, with Anderson Aquino, to the last one, with Romerito, it was all about Sport’s comeback. The second goal by the locals was scored by César in the 37th mark. Atlético now is the first team outside the relegation zone, just two points ahead of Juventude.

For 89 minutes, Figueirense imposed a defeated to Vasco in São Januário, something that doesn’t happen since September of last year, but it let the victory to slip away. Figueirense came back in the match with goals by André Santos and Peter, but in the last minute Leandro Amaral from the spot made it 2-2. Vasco still is on the top of the table but watches some São Paulo with a 7 points difference now.

In the battle of the relegation zone, Naútico visited América in Natal and destroyed the home team with a 5-1. Naútico’s first goal is a must see. The level stupidity in this own goal own goal explains why América is the last club in the table.

goals:

http://video.globo.com/Videos/Player/Esportes/0,,GIM710786-7824-ASSISTA+AOS+GOLS+DA+RODADA+DO+BRASILEIRAO,00.html