SAO PAULO (AP) -- Ronaldo scored a late goal as defending champion
Corinthians beat Ituano 2-0 on Sunday to remain in semifinals contention in
the Sao Paulo state championship.
Elsewhere in Brazilian competition, Robinho also scored for Santos in the
Sao Paulo tournament, while Flamengo, Botafogo, Fluminense and Vasco reached
the semifinals of the Rio Cup, the second stage of the Rio de Janeiro state
championship.
Ronaldo sealed Corinthians' win with a goal from close range in the 86th
minute into an open net after a cross from midfielder Tcheco.
It was Ronaldo's second goal in as many matches, including his contribution
in the 2-1 win over Paraguay's Cerro Porteno in the Copa Libertadores on
Thursday.
Midfielder Jucilei had opened the scoring for Corinthians just five minutes
before Ronaldo's goal in Sao Jose do Rio Preto with a header from just
outside the six-yard box.
"We knew it was going to be a hard match, but we took advantage of our
chances at the end,'' Ronaldo said.
With one round left before the semifinals, Corinthians are in fifth place
with 32 points, one behind Sao Paulo and two behind third-place Gremio
Prudente.
Santos maintained the competition lead after a 3-1 win over Sao Caetano in
Sao Caetano do Sul, reaching 44 points. Robinho, who hadn't played in four
matches because of a muscle injury, scored the team's third goal in a
second-half breakaway.
Second-place Santo Andre, which has already secured a semifinal spot, played
to a 1-1 draw at Rio Claro on Saturday to reach 37 points.
Sao Paulo routed seventh-place Botafogo 5-0 courtesy of a pair of goals by
midfielder Hernanes at Morumbi stadium. Sao Paulo goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni
missed a 13th-minute penalty kick when the match was 0-0.
Gremio Prudente, which changed its name after moving from the city of
Barueri to President Prudente, moved into third after a come-from-behind 3-2
win over Bragantino in Braganca Paulista.
Sixth-place Portuguesa improved to 31 points after beating Rio Branco 2-0 in
Americana on Saturday and also remains in contention for the semis.
On Saturday, 2008 champion Palmeiras had a scoreless draw with Oeste in
heavy rain at Palestra Italia stadium in Sao Paulo, dropping to 10th in the
20-team standings.
Monte Azul, Sertaozinho and Rio Branco have already been relegated to the
second division. Bragantino, Rio Claro, Ituano, Mirassol and Paulista are
trying to avoid being the fourth team demoted.
In Rio de Janeiro, the state's top teams advanced to the semifinals stage of
the Rio Cup.
Vasco needed a 78th-minute winner from veteran striker Dodo to beat Duque de
Caxias 4-3 in Volta Redonda and secure its berth. It finished second in
Group B, one point ahead of America, which has former striker Romario
overseeing its football operations.
Botafogo, which drew Bangu 2-2 at Engenhao stadium, had already clinched
first place in the group.
In Group A, defending Rio champion Flamengo topped the group after a 3-0 win
over Friburguense in Moca Bonita, while Fluminense was second after a 3-1
win over Macae at Maracana stadium.
Botafogo, which won the Guanabara Cup, the first stage of the state
tournament, will face Fluminense in the Rio Cup semifinals, while Flamengo
will play Vasco.
The winner of the Rio Cup meets the winner of the Guanabara Cup for the
state title. Botafogo can automatically clinch the state trophy if it also
wins the Rio Cup.
In the Rio Grande do Sul state tournament, two-time national champion Gremio
beat Juventude 2-1 in Caxias do Sul to extend its winning streak to 15
matches. It has won all of its matches since a 1-1 draw against Sao Luiz on
Feb. 3. |