Loading ...Aug 04 2008
Brasileirao: Gremio and Cruzeiro Continue Winning Ways
Two weeks ago, there were six teams within four points of first place in Brazil’s top league (the Campeonato Brasileirao Serie A). After this weekend’s Round 17 action, only three teams can make that claim. Grêmio were unable to lengthen their two point lead atop the table, but Cruzeiro created a slightly larger cushion between themselves and third. Though a Palmeiras win keeps the Verdão within striking distance of the top, Grêmio and Cruzeiro’s recent results are starting to distinguish themselves from the rest of the Brasileirao.
On Sunday, both league leaders were tested, each playing a top four side. While Grêmio’s 2-0 victory over formerly third place Vitória might seem the better result when compared to Cruzeiro’s 2-1 win over sinking Flamengo, Mengo was back in form for much of Sunday’s match against A Raposa. From the onset the former league-leaders exhibited an assertiveness and confidence that has been missing during their last five matches. Still, they went into halftime in Rio all even, neither side having scored.
That changed early in the second when, in the 58th minute, Flamengo broke through. Their persist attack earned a corner, which Vandinho converted. The hosts went up 1-0, with the forward heading the cross from 15 meters down to the edge of the eight yard box, the ball bouncing into the left side of goal.
The goal released an outpouring of excitement from players and fans - relief at seeing the end of their slide within reach. The Flamengo that won the goal was a throwback to two months ago, when the club was the best in the league, sitting atop the table. A win over Cruzeiro could vault them back into second place, a first step towards reclaiming that spot.
That potential carried Flamengo over the next but of play before Cruzeiro steadied themselves. Once the they regained composure, Cruzeiro struck quickly and gutted their hosts.
In the 67th minute, Guilherme’s (pictured, above) league-leading 10th goal tied the match after Mengo’s normally reliable back line allowed a cross from the right of goal to bounce in the box, right to an unmarked Guilherme, who was able to punch a header into net without a challenge. It was a mildly embarassing goal that saw an isolated defender standing in front of goal scramble for the league’s leading scorer after realizing (too late) that he was left alone.
Perhaps demoralized at relinquishing control back to A Raposa, Flamengo gave up the winning goal two minutes later. Seconds after being brought on, Cruziero substitute midfielder Rômulo completed a beautiful counterattack that ran from just outside the visitor’s area to the back of Flamengo’s net in less than six seconds.
After a break out of their own end, Guilherme received the ball just outside Flamengo’s area and drew three defenders towards him. A quick decision and a subtle chip to the streaking Rômulo put the substitute in alone on goaltender Bruno. A clinical finish from the midfielder gave Cruzeiro their margin of victory.
Flamengo’s demoralization was palpable. The energy that filled the stadium after Vandinho’s goal made you believe Mengo’s plight was about to end. Against a strong opponent, the dead ball goal in front of the home fans was the type of event that could serve as an emotional end-point for the slide. In the moments after the goal, you could see the burst return to the hosts’ steps. All the confidence that had dissipated during the five preceding winless matches had been wiped away. To see that feeling leave and then be replaced by the gutted feeling of inevitability that set in after Rômulo’s sudden winner was heartbreaking.
It was only after the dust settled and a resigned Flamengo side left the pitch that you realized how impressive Cruzeiro’s victory had been. There was that point, right after the Mengo goal, where you not only felt the tide go the visitors but you would have understood if Cruzeiro decided that match was not to be. But after a few minutes of letting Flamengo’s energy play-out, Cruzeiro reestablished themselves. Within short minutes they had not only restored order, they had gutted their opponents.
The second, counterattacking goal was indicative of the killer instinct that separates league-title contenders from the merely good clubs. Cruziero - against Flamengo, during their now three match win streak, and for most of the season’s first half - has shown themselves to be contenders.
In the interim, Grêmio continued with their excellent play, discarding Vitória with relative easy. The 2-0 win saw the league leaders in front from the seventeenth minute forward, making Vitória seem the barely-promoted club they are.
Finishing fourth in Serie B last season, Vitória was the last club promoted, making remarkable their previous third place Serie A standing. On Sunday, though, their trip to the Olimpico Monumental saw them out-classed. Goals from William Magrao and Reinaldo helped the league leaders keep their two point lead on Cruzeiro and distinguish the league’s top two from the rest.
The one team that managed to keep up with Grêmio and Cruzeiro may still prove to be the most dangerous side in the league. Last week, I confessed my bias towards Palmeiras, and although a 2-1 victory at bottom-dwelling Ipatinga is not overwhelmingly impressive, Big Green is the only team at the top that has not lost ground as the league leaders surge.
Palmeiras was more impressive than the score hints, allowing a stoppage time goal at match’s end to belie their holding the lead for all but twelve minutes. Two goals from Jorge Valdivia helped push the Verdão into third place, a Copa Libertadores qualifying position, and a position from which they can threaten the top.
But at the table’s bottom, Fluminense’s remarkable journey from Copa finalists to relegation threats continued with a 2-1 loss to mid-table Internacional. That score was a little deceiving in that Flu’s goal came after some slightly disorganized play in front of Inter’s net saw the ball deflect off multiple bodies and onto the foot of striker Somália. His 70th minute goal pulled Flu within one after two goals in the first 21 minutes had Inter in control of the game. Over the last 20 minutes of the match, Inter dominated possession, never giving their hosts a sniff of a point. The lost left Fluminense five points back of a safe spot on the spot.
Fluminense looks lost at both ends of the pitch. They are unable to build any consistent threat without Thiago Neves. At the back, they are disorganized without Thiago Silva. Both are in Beijing for three more weeks, and it is not out of the question that either or both of these stars will be in Europe before the end of August. It is hard to imagine what Fluminense would do without either, should the sales go through. Flu is getting nothing from Dodo or Darío Conca, two players who must step-up during the Olympics. If their two Thiagos come back, Fluminense’s only goal for the season will be salvaging enough points to avoid being relegated to Serie B, an unbelievable fall for the near-champions of South America who finished fourth in last season’s Serie A.
Fluminense’s situation is similar to the dire straits the club sat in before getting Thiago Neves on his return Japan two seasons ago. Then, Neves saved the club from relegation. The next season, Neves would win the Bola de Ouro while helping Fluminense qualify for the Copa.
Now, it remains to be seen whether Neves, who has only been available for five Brasileirao matches this season, will have as much invested in saving Flu as he did two seasons ago, when he was also redefining his career after his Asian failure. With Europe on his horizon, Fluminense needs to consider other places to get their goals.
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