One game to go and we still have no idea which of the top three teams will prevail.
Fluminense, on 68 points, maintain their one point advantage over Corinthians with Cruzeiro still snapping at their heels a further point behind.
All three teams carved out victories to leave everything up for grabs on the last day.
Guarani on the other hand went down lamely at home to Gremio and join Goias and Gremio Prudente in Serie B next season.
The thrill in the Serie A is set to reach its peak on the last match-day of the season. Who will win the title? We are yet to know... Well, in the meantime, fans of Fluminense, Corinthians, and Cruzeiro are all on their feet!
Guarani had to win to stand any chance of staying up. They didn’t, going down meekly to a Gremio side wanting to maintain their top four position and place in the Libertadores Cup.
The visitors took the lead on 23 minutes when Andre Lima rose unmarked in the penalty area to head home a lofted free kick from the left. Jonas scored from the penalty spot in the second half on 33 minutes after Diego, on for Andre Lima, was brought down and Diego himself completed an easy win seven minutes from time.
Atletico-PR, still with hopes of a top four spot, travelled to the heat of the north to take on mid-table Ceara and took the lead on 37 minutes when, from a free kick Rafael Santos, headed down past Michel Alves’ right hand post.
The equalizer came six minutes later when Magnos Alves hit a low shot across the six yard box that found its way into the far corner.
The hosts still had something to play for – the points that would give them an automatic place in the Libertadores Cup. Prudente, relegated two weeks ago, didn’t put up much of a fight.
Antonio Carlos opened the scoring after 30 minutes, heading in from a corner on the right. A minute before the interval Edno beat Prudente keeper Sidney from outside the box to double the lead.
24 minutes into the second half Willian Jose pulled one back for Prudente beating Jefferson from long range. Marcelo Cordeiro tucked away a penalty in the last minute to complete a comfortable win for the hosts.
Fluminense came into this game needing a win to maintain their lead at the top. They started nervously and went one down after only four minutes.
Dinei latched on to a hopeless back pass by Carlinhos and hit an unstoppable right foot half volley out of the reach of keeper Ricardo Berna from just outside the angle of the penalty area.
However, he made up for his error when he leveled the scores after 18 minutes. Cutting in from the left he curled in a right footer into the top corner from just outside the box.
Tarta, on for Deco, wrapped up the points after Deola had beaten out a shot and followed up to pick his spot with a precision left foot shot to the keeper’s right.
Eleven yellow cards were shown (eight to the visitors, three to the home side) in a match that Avai needed to win to avoid relegation.
They started the day one place out of the relegation zone only on a better goal record. So it didn’t look good when Keirrison netted after nine minutes and Santos increased their lead when Neymar put them two up after 32.
This gave Avai the jolt they needed. Caio pulled one back after 40 minutes and scored his second one minute into time added on in the first half.
A niggling game continued in the second half before Caio scored his third and the winner for the home side to climb to fourteenth place.
Goias, already relegated, visited Atletico-MG who still neede points to be sure of Serie A football next season. And it was the home side that took the lead after 15 minutes when Renen Oliveira threaded the ball through to Diego Souza in the box who took aim and hit a left footed shot across Harlei and in off the post.
However, the hosts went to sleep after 39 minutes leaving Everton Santos unmarked in the six yard box to beat Renen Ribeirro at the near post. Atletico-MG regained the lead on the stroke of half time through Renan Oliveira who rifled the ball into the top of the Goias net from six yards.
After 18 minutes of the second half Diego Souza passed the ball through for Diego Tardelli to slip the ball under the advancing Harlei.
Vitoria started the day in 17th place on forty points and needed a win to have any hope of climbing above rivals Avai and Atletico-GO on the same points.
They began well and troubled Internacional on a few occasions though the home side too had their chances. It wasn’t until the second half that the deadlock was broken.
Five minutes in and, after good approach work, Adailton found himself just inside the box on the right. He checked inside and sent a fierce left foot shot into the roof of the net past Renan’s despairing dive.
Despite their efforts, the visitors conceded a goal only eleven minutes later. And what a goal it was! Rafael Sobis, working down the left, cut inside Nino Paraiba and hit a screamer with his right foot in off the bar giving Vitoria keeper Viafara no chance.
Flamengo, still not sure of avoiding the drop, deservedly took the lead after nine minutes against title chasing Cruzeiro. Diogo threaded the ball inside Cruzeiro fullback Leo Moura for Diego Mauricio who lifted the ball over Fabio and into the far corner.
Cruzeiro leveled only six minutes later. A foul just outside the area by Welinton on Montillo led to Roger to fire in the free kick. The ball struck Fahti and deflected past the helpless Marcelo Lomba.
And they clinched the vital points after 23 minutes of the second half when Montillo, after good work on the right, crossed for Thiago Ribeiro to climb above Welinton and head home.
Atletico-GO are in desperate need of points sitting as they are just outside the drop zone. They didn’t help their survival chances with a sloppy display against Sao Paulo.
A scrappy first half ended goalless but nine minutes into the second half Agenor fouled Lucas in the box. Sao Paulo keeper Rogerio Ceni stepped up to convert the penalty, sending his shot to opposite number Marcio’s left.
Ten minutes later it was Sao Paulo’s turn to mess up. Poor defending failed to cut out what should have been a harmless ball but it found its way through to Elias who slid the ball past the advancing Rogerio Ceni.
Corinthians were in no mood to let their chance of the title slip and comfortably disposed of visitors Vasco. The opening goal, however, was somewhat of a farce. 39 minutes into the first half Bruno Cesar tried a speculative left foot shot from thirty yards out.
The ball hit Dede who, trying to clear, only managed to deflect the ball at keeper Fernando Prass from the edge of the six yard box. The ball got tangled up in the keeper’s legs before squirting over the line. Bruno Cesar claimed, and was given, the goal.
The second goal 12 minutes into the second half was well constructed. Good work down the left from the still impressive Roberto Carlos saw him play a neat one-two into the box with Bruno Cesar.
A cross to the far post found Danilo storming in to head past Fernando Prass. To make matters worse for Vasco, Ze Roberto was sent off for a second yellow after a needless foul on Ralf.
All three teams carved out victories to leave everything up for grabs on the last day.
Guarani on the other hand went down lamely at home to Gremio and join Goias and Gremio Prudente in Serie B next season.
The thrill in the Serie A is set to reach its peak on the last match-day of the season. Who will win the title? We are yet to know... Well, in the meantime, fans of Fluminense, Corinthians, and Cruzeiro are all on their feet!
Guarani had to win to stand any chance of staying up. They didn’t, going down meekly to a Gremio side wanting to maintain their top four position and place in the Libertadores Cup.
The visitors took the lead on 23 minutes when Andre Lima rose unmarked in the penalty area to head home a lofted free kick from the left. Jonas scored from the penalty spot in the second half on 33 minutes after Diego, on for Andre Lima, was brought down and Diego himself completed an easy win seven minutes from time.
Atletico-PR, still with hopes of a top four spot, travelled to the heat of the north to take on mid-table Ceara and took the lead on 37 minutes when, from a free kick Rafael Santos, headed down past Michel Alves’ right hand post.
The equalizer came six minutes later when Magnos Alves hit a low shot across the six yard box that found its way into the far corner.
The hosts still had something to play for – the points that would give them an automatic place in the Libertadores Cup. Prudente, relegated two weeks ago, didn’t put up much of a fight.
Antonio Carlos opened the scoring after 30 minutes, heading in from a corner on the right. A minute before the interval Edno beat Prudente keeper Sidney from outside the box to double the lead.
24 minutes into the second half Willian Jose pulled one back for Prudente beating Jefferson from long range. Marcelo Cordeiro tucked away a penalty in the last minute to complete a comfortable win for the hosts.
Fluminense came into this game needing a win to maintain their lead at the top. They started nervously and went one down after only four minutes.
Dinei latched on to a hopeless back pass by Carlinhos and hit an unstoppable right foot half volley out of the reach of keeper Ricardo Berna from just outside the angle of the penalty area.
However, he made up for his error when he leveled the scores after 18 minutes. Cutting in from the left he curled in a right footer into the top corner from just outside the box.
Tarta, on for Deco, wrapped up the points after Deola had beaten out a shot and followed up to pick his spot with a precision left foot shot to the keeper’s right.
Eleven yellow cards were shown (eight to the visitors, three to the home side) in a match that Avai needed to win to avoid relegation.
They started the day one place out of the relegation zone only on a better goal record. So it didn’t look good when Keirrison netted after nine minutes and Santos increased their lead when Neymar put them two up after 32.
This gave Avai the jolt they needed. Caio pulled one back after 40 minutes and scored his second one minute into time added on in the first half.
A niggling game continued in the second half before Caio scored his third and the winner for the home side to climb to fourteenth place.
Goias, already relegated, visited Atletico-MG who still neede points to be sure of Serie A football next season. And it was the home side that took the lead after 15 minutes when Renen Oliveira threaded the ball through to Diego Souza in the box who took aim and hit a left footed shot across Harlei and in off the post.
However, the hosts went to sleep after 39 minutes leaving Everton Santos unmarked in the six yard box to beat Renen Ribeirro at the near post. Atletico-MG regained the lead on the stroke of half time through Renan Oliveira who rifled the ball into the top of the Goias net from six yards.
After 18 minutes of the second half Diego Souza passed the ball through for Diego Tardelli to slip the ball under the advancing Harlei.
Vitoria started the day in 17th place on forty points and needed a win to have any hope of climbing above rivals Avai and Atletico-GO on the same points.
They began well and troubled Internacional on a few occasions though the home side too had their chances. It wasn’t until the second half that the deadlock was broken.
Five minutes in and, after good approach work, Adailton found himself just inside the box on the right. He checked inside and sent a fierce left foot shot into the roof of the net past Renan’s despairing dive.
Despite their efforts, the visitors conceded a goal only eleven minutes later. And what a goal it was! Rafael Sobis, working down the left, cut inside Nino Paraiba and hit a screamer with his right foot in off the bar giving Vitoria keeper Viafara no chance.
Flamengo, still not sure of avoiding the drop, deservedly took the lead after nine minutes against title chasing Cruzeiro. Diogo threaded the ball inside Cruzeiro fullback Leo Moura for Diego Mauricio who lifted the ball over Fabio and into the far corner.
Cruzeiro leveled only six minutes later. A foul just outside the area by Welinton on Montillo led to Roger to fire in the free kick. The ball struck Fahti and deflected past the helpless Marcelo Lomba.
And they clinched the vital points after 23 minutes of the second half when Montillo, after good work on the right, crossed for Thiago Ribeiro to climb above Welinton and head home.
Atletico-GO are in desperate need of points sitting as they are just outside the drop zone. They didn’t help their survival chances with a sloppy display against Sao Paulo.
A scrappy first half ended goalless but nine minutes into the second half Agenor fouled Lucas in the box. Sao Paulo keeper Rogerio Ceni stepped up to convert the penalty, sending his shot to opposite number Marcio’s left.
Ten minutes later it was Sao Paulo’s turn to mess up. Poor defending failed to cut out what should have been a harmless ball but it found its way through to Elias who slid the ball past the advancing Rogerio Ceni.
Corinthians were in no mood to let their chance of the title slip and comfortably disposed of visitors Vasco. The opening goal, however, was somewhat of a farce. 39 minutes into the first half Bruno Cesar tried a speculative left foot shot from thirty yards out.
The ball hit Dede who, trying to clear, only managed to deflect the ball at keeper Fernando Prass from the edge of the six yard box. The ball got tangled up in the keeper’s legs before squirting over the line. Bruno Cesar claimed, and was given, the goal.
The second goal 12 minutes into the second half was well constructed. Good work down the left from the still impressive Roberto Carlos saw him play a neat one-two into the box with Bruno Cesar.
A cross to the far post found Danilo storming in to head past Fernando Prass. To make matters worse for Vasco, Ze Roberto was sent off for a second yellow after a needless foul on Ralf.
