12/07/2009
Sao Paulo draws Flamengo, Ronaldo's Corinthians routed in Brazil
Striker Borges and midfielder Jorge Wagner scored either side of
halftime to give defending champion Sao Paulo a 2-2 draw with Flamengo
in the Brazilian league on Sunday.
Atletico Mineiro regained the lead of the 20-team championship with 3-0
win over rival Cruzeiro, which had a player sent off just seven seconds
into the match for elbowing.
Ronaldo's Corinthians was routed 3-0 by Gremio.
Chilean midfielder Gonzalo Fierro put Flamengo ahead at Morumbi stadium
after a mistake by Sao Paulo goalkeeper Denis, who gave the ball away
while trying to send a long ball from his own area in the fourth minute.
- AP
Denis' shot came out low and struck the Fierro outside the box, and he
had no difficulties finding the open net.
It was Fierro's first goal since being acquired by Flamengo last year.
Borges equalized for Sao Paulo in the 18th minute with a low shot from
near the penalty spot.
Striker Adriano, who played for Sao Paulo last year on a loan from Inter
Milan, scored his fifth goal since joining Flamengo earlier this year
when he converted a penalty in the two minutes later after being fouled
inside the area.
Sao Paulo midfielder Jorge Wagner leveled the match again with a
65th-minute penalty. Sao Paulo played a man down from the 44th minute
after defender Renato Silva received his second yellow card for a hard
foul on Fierro.
Sao Paulo, which won the last three Brazilian leagues, has only one
victory in its last seven matches and is only 12th in this year's
standings.
Flamengo moved to seventh place with the result, which kept alive a
four-match unbeaten streak for Brazil's most popular club.
Atletico Mineiro reached the top of the table with 21 points from 10
matches after its win over Cruzeiro, the team's first against the rival
in 12 matches.
Atletico had lost 10 games and drawn two against Cruzeiro coming into
Sunday's match at Mineirao stadium.
Cruzeiro played without most of its regular starters, who were rested
ahead of the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final against
Argentina's Estudiantes on Wednesday.
The teams' drew the first match 0-0 in Argentina last week and a victory
will give Cruzeiro its third title in Latin America's most important
club competition. Cruzeiro played with 10 men since the beginning of the
match after striker Ze Carlos was sent off for elbowing Renan just after
kick off.
"I have to apologize to the fans," Ze Carlos told local media.
Internacional could have stayed atop the standings if it hadn't lost 3-2
to Atletico Paranaense at Arena da Baixada stadium in Curitiba.
Midfielder Marcinho scored twice for Atletico Paranaense, which moved
out of relegation zone with the result.
Internacional, one point behind Atletico Mineiro, got on the board with
striker Nilmar and Argentine midfielder Andres D'Alessandro.
Internacional rival Gremio handed Corinthians its second loss in four
matches with the 3-0 victory at Olimpico stadium in Porto Alegre.
Gremio played without Argentine strikers Maxi Lopez and German Herrera,
who last week scored two goals each in the team's victory over Atletico
Paranaense.
Ronaldo, who scored three goals against Fluminense on Wednesday, was
kept from threatening on Sunday.
It was Corinthians' first loss by more than two goals since coach Mano
Menezes - a former Gremio manager - took over the club in January 2008.
On Saturday, Corinthians rival Palmeiras moved to third in the standings
by routing Nautico 4-1 under pouring rain at Palestra Italia stadium in
Sao Paulo. Colombian left back Pablo Armero scored one of the goals for
the four-time national champion, which hasn't lost in 10 matches.
The team is still being commanded by interim coach and former player
Jorginho, who is at the helm after Vanderlei Luxemburgo was fired last
month.
Also Saturday, Botafogo beat Avai 2-1 in Florianopolis to clinch its
second win in this year's competition and move to 16th in the standings.
Barueri is fourth after beating Coritiba 3-1 in Barueri.
