Fluminense move within two points of the league leaders after beating Internacional.
Titleholders Fluminense took full advantage of the fact that league leaders Corinthians and Vasco da Gama both lost their games on the weekend, by beating 2-1 Internacional, a result that not only allowed them to jump from sixth to third-place, but it also enabled them to move within two points from the top of the table, with only five rounds remaining in the Brazilian championship.
With 56 points, Fluminense would move into first-place with a win over America-MG on Saturday, provided that Corinthians and Vasco, with 58 points each, don't claim victories in their respective league matches against Atletico Paranaense and Botafogo.
Meanwhile, Flamengo remain close by in fifth-place with 55 points after thumping relegation candidates Cruzeiro 5-1. Botafogo find themselves with identical points as Flamengo, however, the fact that they have won two more matches than Flamengo this season means they slot one place above their city rivals.
Flamengo sent Cruzeiro back into the relegation zone after hammering them 5-1 at the Engenhao stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday. With a hat-trick from Thiago Neves and two more goals from Deivid, Flamengo remain in the title race with 55 points, just three points less than league leaders Corinthians, with 58.
Cruzeiro desperately needed a win to ease their relegation worries, and they raced into the lead in the 23rd minute, when Anselmo Ramon met a cross with a spectacular scissor kick. Five minutes later Cruzeiro could have doubled their lead, however, Uruguayan defender Mauricio Victorino blasted a penalty kick onto the crossbar. Cruzeiro were made to pay for their lack of finishing, when Deivid scored twice in the space of fourteen minutes to put Flamengo ahead.
Deivid's first goal came when his long-range missile hit the crossbar and rebounded off the back of Cruzeiro goalkeeper Fabio, before creeping over the line, and the second when he connected to a Ronaldinho corner-kick with a powerful header at the back post.
From then on it was all one-way traffic, as Flamengo completely ripped apart Cruzeiro, with a superb hat-trick from Thiago Neves. Neves' last goal was particularly memorable, as he took advantage of a poor pass from Fabio, humiliating the goalkeeper with a stunning lobbed effort.
Vasco da Gama failed to move into first-place of the league standings, after losing 2-0 against Santos at the Vila Belmiro stadium on Sunday. Santos superstar Neymar made all of the difference, by scoring Santos' first goal and setting up their second.
Neymar put Santos ahead in the 4th minute when his dangerous left-sided free-kick deflected off Vasco defender Renato Silva before finding the back of the net. Santos, who lifted the 2011 Copa Libertadores, may be out of the Brazilian title race, however, they completely dominated Vasco, with their typical exciting attacking football.
Paulo Henrique Ganso, who was back in Santos' starting eleven after an injury layoff, was at the centre of their best attacking moves, and was the main supplier for Neymar, who constantly terrorized the vulnerable Vasco defense.
In the 73rd minute, Neymar outwitted a defender, as he found space for an overlapping run for Borges, and the striker spectacularly blasted the ball home, to hand Santos the three points.
Corinthians remain top of the Brazilian championship, despite losing 2-1 against America-MG at the Parque do Sabia stadium in Uberlandia on Sunday. Corinthians would have surrendered league leadership to their closest rivals Vasco, but like Corinthians the Rio de Janeiro-based side also lost when playing on the road.
Fabio Junior put America ahead in the 34th minute, when he converted a finely struck penalty kick. Prior to the goal Corinthians argued with match referee Jean Pierre Goncalves Lima because they felt that the foul was committed outside of the area.
Corinthians drew level on the stroke of half-time, when Chicao beat America goalkeeper Neneca with another well-placed penalty kick. The Timao seemed in command from that instance, but they failed to find the back of the net in the entire second half.
It seemed that the game would end in a draw, however, in the 87th minute Amaral gave America the win with a nicely executed free-kick that bounced once before rolling over Corinthians goalkeeper Julio Cesar.
Fluminense moved within two points of the leagues leaders after defeating Internacional of Porto Alegre 2-1 at the Beira-Rio stadium on Sunday.
The titleholders arrived in Porto Alegre with lots of confidence, as they knew that a win would keep them in the title hunt. Fluminense went ahead in the 17th minute when ruthless striker Rafael Moura headed home a well-delivered cross.
After the goal Internacional, who needed a win in order to stand a chance for the title, pushed forward in an attempt to score a quick equaliser, and after much pressure it finally arrived in the 37th minute through midfielder Oscar.
However, their joy was short lived, as in the third minute of first-half stoppage time Deco found Rafael Sobis with a perfect ball and the striker beat Internacional goalkeeper Muriel with a well-placed crossed shot.
Spurned on by the home fans Internacional did their utmost to level the score in the second half, but although they created several clear-cut opportunities they couldn't find a way past Fluminense goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri, who proved invincible.
Brazilian Championship - Round 33 Results
November 5
Atletico Mineiro 2 - 0 Gremio
Bahia 4 - 3 Sao Paulo
Botafogo 0 - 1 Figueirense
November 6
America 2 - 1 Corinthians
Avai 1 - 2 Ceara
Flamengo 5 - 1 Cruzeiro
Santos 2 - 0 Vasco
Atletico Paranaense 2 - 1 Atletico GO
Internacional 1 - 2 Fluminense
Palmeiras 0 - 2 Coritiba
With 56 points, Fluminense would move into first-place with a win over America-MG on Saturday, provided that Corinthians and Vasco, with 58 points each, don't claim victories in their respective league matches against Atletico Paranaense and Botafogo.
Meanwhile, Flamengo remain close by in fifth-place with 55 points after thumping relegation candidates Cruzeiro 5-1. Botafogo find themselves with identical points as Flamengo, however, the fact that they have won two more matches than Flamengo this season means they slot one place above their city rivals.
Flamengo sent Cruzeiro back into the relegation zone after hammering them 5-1 at the Engenhao stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday. With a hat-trick from Thiago Neves and two more goals from Deivid, Flamengo remain in the title race with 55 points, just three points less than league leaders Corinthians, with 58.
Cruzeiro desperately needed a win to ease their relegation worries, and they raced into the lead in the 23rd minute, when Anselmo Ramon met a cross with a spectacular scissor kick. Five minutes later Cruzeiro could have doubled their lead, however, Uruguayan defender Mauricio Victorino blasted a penalty kick onto the crossbar. Cruzeiro were made to pay for their lack of finishing, when Deivid scored twice in the space of fourteen minutes to put Flamengo ahead.
Deivid's first goal came when his long-range missile hit the crossbar and rebounded off the back of Cruzeiro goalkeeper Fabio, before creeping over the line, and the second when he connected to a Ronaldinho corner-kick with a powerful header at the back post.
From then on it was all one-way traffic, as Flamengo completely ripped apart Cruzeiro, with a superb hat-trick from Thiago Neves. Neves' last goal was particularly memorable, as he took advantage of a poor pass from Fabio, humiliating the goalkeeper with a stunning lobbed effort.
Vasco da Gama failed to move into first-place of the league standings, after losing 2-0 against Santos at the Vila Belmiro stadium on Sunday. Santos superstar Neymar made all of the difference, by scoring Santos' first goal and setting up their second.
Neymar put Santos ahead in the 4th minute when his dangerous left-sided free-kick deflected off Vasco defender Renato Silva before finding the back of the net. Santos, who lifted the 2011 Copa Libertadores, may be out of the Brazilian title race, however, they completely dominated Vasco, with their typical exciting attacking football.
Paulo Henrique Ganso, who was back in Santos' starting eleven after an injury layoff, was at the centre of their best attacking moves, and was the main supplier for Neymar, who constantly terrorized the vulnerable Vasco defense.
In the 73rd minute, Neymar outwitted a defender, as he found space for an overlapping run for Borges, and the striker spectacularly blasted the ball home, to hand Santos the three points.
Corinthians remain top of the Brazilian championship, despite losing 2-1 against America-MG at the Parque do Sabia stadium in Uberlandia on Sunday. Corinthians would have surrendered league leadership to their closest rivals Vasco, but like Corinthians the Rio de Janeiro-based side also lost when playing on the road.
Fabio Junior put America ahead in the 34th minute, when he converted a finely struck penalty kick. Prior to the goal Corinthians argued with match referee Jean Pierre Goncalves Lima because they felt that the foul was committed outside of the area.
Corinthians drew level on the stroke of half-time, when Chicao beat America goalkeeper Neneca with another well-placed penalty kick. The Timao seemed in command from that instance, but they failed to find the back of the net in the entire second half.
It seemed that the game would end in a draw, however, in the 87th minute Amaral gave America the win with a nicely executed free-kick that bounced once before rolling over Corinthians goalkeeper Julio Cesar.
Fluminense moved within two points of the leagues leaders after defeating Internacional of Porto Alegre 2-1 at the Beira-Rio stadium on Sunday.
The titleholders arrived in Porto Alegre with lots of confidence, as they knew that a win would keep them in the title hunt. Fluminense went ahead in the 17th minute when ruthless striker Rafael Moura headed home a well-delivered cross.
After the goal Internacional, who needed a win in order to stand a chance for the title, pushed forward in an attempt to score a quick equaliser, and after much pressure it finally arrived in the 37th minute through midfielder Oscar.
However, their joy was short lived, as in the third minute of first-half stoppage time Deco found Rafael Sobis with a perfect ball and the striker beat Internacional goalkeeper Muriel with a well-placed crossed shot.
Spurned on by the home fans Internacional did their utmost to level the score in the second half, but although they created several clear-cut opportunities they couldn't find a way past Fluminense goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri, who proved invincible.
Brazilian Championship - Round 33 Results
November 5
Atletico Mineiro 2 - 0 Gremio
Bahia 4 - 3 Sao Paulo
Botafogo 0 - 1 Figueirense
November 6
America 2 - 1 Corinthians
Avai 1 - 2 Ceara
Flamengo 5 - 1 Cruzeiro
Santos 2 - 0 Vasco
Atletico Paranaense 2 - 1 Atletico GO
Internacional 1 - 2 Fluminense
Palmeiras 0 - 2 Coritiba
