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Brasileiro Round-Up: Fluminense Spice Up The Basement Battle While Nobody Takes Charge At The Top

Goal.com’s Tim Sturtridge has the latest from the Brazilian domestic scene...

Nov 23, 2009 3:12:29 AM

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Madson e Neymar - Santos

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36 ª Rodada

Wednesday, 18th November

Grêmio 2 - 0 Palmeiras

Saturday, 21st November

Atlético Paranaense 1 - 1 Cruzeiro

Corinthians 2 - 3 Náutico

Sunday, 22nd November

Santo André 4 - 2 Avaí

Santos 4 - 0 Coritiba

Sport Recife 0 - 3 Fluminense

Botafogo 3 - 2 São Paulo

Vitória 2 - 1 Grêmio Barueri

Flamengo 0 - 0 Goiás

Atlético Mineiro 0 - 1 Internacional

Grêmio 2 - 0 Palmeiras

Grêmio beat their title chasing visitors by two goals in Wednesday night’s game but that doesn’t even begin to tell half the story.

Strikes from Rafael Marques and Maxi Lopez helped Grêmio keep their unbeaten home record in the league intact but they were also helped by a bizarre double dismissal for Palmeiras. Defender Mauricio and attacker Obina decided to have a punch-up at the interval and both players were given their marching orders.

The quarrelsome duo have since been told their services are no longer required at Palmeiras as the defeat saw the club miss out on the chance to reclaim top spot in the league. Meanwhile the points help Grêmio cement their midtable position.

Atlético Paranaense 1 - 1 Cruzeiro

A valuable win in their battle against relegation was snatched away from Atletico-PR in the last minute of their game with Cruzeiro.

Leonardo Silva’s late, late strike cancelled out Marcinho’s second half opener for the home side and with two games of the season left Atletico-PR find themselves just two points above the dropzone.

Cruzeiro are no happier with the draw themselves as for another weekend they fail to make it into the Copa Libertadores places. The visitors also had Gilberto sent off late on.

Corinthians 2 - 3 Náutico

Náutico went out in a blaze of glory away to Corinthians where despite winning their relegation to Serie B still looks a certainty at the conclusion of the weekend’s action.

Bruno Mineiro’s first half strike gave the visitors the lead at the interval but it was cancelled out early into the second period by Ronaldo. Bruno Mineiro then saw red and with Elias’ goal giving the home side the lead it looked like another defeat was on the cards for Náutico.

A spirited fight back however from the visitors saw Carlinhos Bala draw them level before retaking the lead through Ailton from the penalty spot in the 92nd minute. Alas it could be too little too late for Náutico who are six points from safety with two to play while Corinthians continue to cruise along in midtable.

Santo André 4 - 2 Avaí

As with Náutico the home side in this encounter knew that nothing less than a win would see them relegated to Serie B this weekend.

Santo Andre soon got about their task and Marcelinho Carioca gave them a first half lead from the penalty spot. Their advantage was doubled in the second half by Wanderley before Muriqui got one back for Avai. Santo Andre’s two goal advantage in the match was restored by Camilo before Marquinhos got another for the visitors.

Camilo completed his brace in second half injury time to put the seal on the home side’s win and leave them six points from safety with two games to go. Defeat for Avai meanwhile puts an end to their hopes of Copa Libertadores qualification.

Santos 4 - 0 Coritiba

A convincing home win for Santos secured their place in next year’s Brazilian top flight while Coritiba are left looking nervously over their shoulder going into the last two games of the season.

Goals from Madson and Kléber Pereira gave Santos a 2-0 lead at half time and a second half brace from wonderkid Neymar wrapped up the points in the second half.

The three points put Santos out of the relegation dog fight and leaves them to concentrate on gaining entry to next year’s Copa Sudamericana. Coritiba are now just two points above the drop zone with two games left to play.

Sport Recife 0 - 3 Fluminense

After booking their place in the final of this year’s Copa Sudamericana in midweek Fluminense showed no mercy as they travelled to already relegated Sport Recife.

Serie A’s form side took another big step towards avoiding relegation as three second half goals sealed maximum points for the away team. Goals from hotshot Fred and Conca as well as Sport shooting themselves in the foot with an own goal by Zé Antonio and red cards for Moacir and Ciro made it a straightforward win for Fluminense.

Although the visitors remain in the relegation berths they are now just two points from safety and have the three teams above them well within their sights. The season cannot end quick enough for Sport as they stay marooned at the bottom of the league.

Botafogo 3 - 2 São Paulo

São Paulo failed to increase their advantage at the top of the table as they lost this exciting encounter which featured five goals, four red cards and a hat-trick.

Jobson’s opener for the home side was cancelled out on the stroke of half time by Washington. Jorge Wágner then put São Paulo into the lead before Jobson equalised for Botafogo. Richarlyson was dismissed for the visitors as was Juninho for Botafogo before Jobson completed his hat-trick to give the home team a 3-2 lead. With his work for the night done Jobson himself was then sent off and was followed down the tunnel by his team mate Rodrigo Dantas.

Still Botafogo held on for a crucial win which sees them just outside the relegation places. São Paulo end the weekend still in top spot in the league but will be kicking themselves that their lead is just a single point.

Vitória 2 - 1 Grêmio Barueri

A home win for Vitoria means they can look forward to more top flight football next season and a place in next season’s Copa Sudamericana is still very much on the table for both clubs.

Goals from Leandro Domingues and Roger in the first ten minutes of the second half were enough to give the home side victory despite Val Baiano grabbing his 15th of the season for the visitors late on. Barueri’s task was not made any easier by Otacilio Neto receiving his marching orders midway through the second half.

With both teams safe from relegation they will look to cement their place in next year’s Copa Sudamericana with two games of the season remaining.

Flamengo 0 - 0 Goiás

Despite being willed on by a packed Maracana Flamengo could not find the goal to give them the victory which would see them leapfrog São Paulo at the top of the league.

The bore draw with Goias keeps the home team in second place just a point behind the league leaders but the fans streaming out at the final whistle knew that Flamengo had missed out on a golden opportunity to go to the top of the league.

A point for Goias sees their Copa Libertadores aspirations crumble although they still look good for a place in the Copa Sudamericana.

Atlético Mineiro 0 - 1 Internacional

With both teams starting the match on 56 points and knowing a victory would take them up to third in the league this game was played out with all the tenacity of a cup final.

If anybody thought that Giuliano’s early goal for the visitors would open up the encounter then they were wrong as the game stayed tight until Atletico-MG were forced to throw the kitchen sink at their opponents late on.

With the Internacional backline holding strong the win puts the visitors within three points of league leaders São Paulo while Atletico-MG stay back in fifth place and three points outside the Copa Libertadores positions.

Tim Sturtridge, Goal.com

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