Like a pneumatic drill through butter: Five great Ronaldo goals you've probably never seen before

Ronaldo – the original Ronaldo – turned 40 last week, prompting a fresh wave of appreciation for one of the icons of the modern game.

Ronaldo was also the master of reinvention, battling past a string of serious knee injuries that forced him to continuously adapt to diminishing physical capabilities, yet always remaining vital – both to his clubs and country.

We all know some of Ronaldo's great goals by heart. But there are plenty of lesser-known gems in the back catalogue.

Here are five – plus the stories behind them – I picked out for Unibet.

Continuity the key for Cruzeiro, Brazilian champions for the second year running

The Campeonato Brasileiro, to bastardise that neat Gary Lineker aphorism, is a simple championship. 20 teams slog away for the best part of a year and in the end, Cruzeiro win.

It wasn’t always thus, of course: the Belo Horizonte side’s dominance is a relatively unusual phenomenon for a league that usually prides itself on the fact that pretty much any one of 12 or so teams could take the title in any given year. Yet for the first time since São Paulo’s reign of terror between 2006 and 2008, one side looks to be establishing something of a dynasty.

Key to Cruzeiro’s success this term was that most rare of commodities in Brazilian football: continuity. Forward-thinking coach Marcelo Oliveira stayed put following the 2013 title, as did the vast majority of his key players: Éverton Ribeiro, last season’s player of the year, resisted overtures from Europe, while Lucas Silva and Ricardo Goulart also stuck around.

Read the rest of this article on the WhoScored site.

Five youngsters enjoying a breakout season in Série A

With six games of the season remaining, there remains plenty to play for in the 2014 Brasileirão – even if those dastardly Cruzeiro schemers have already all but wrapped up their second consecutive title. The race for the Libertadores places is hotter than the surface of the sun (just the four teams on 54 points as things stand), while plenty of sides are still battling manfully against the drop.

For many, though, the real battle begins after the season’s end, when European clubs will once more come sniffing round in search of talent to tempt to the Velho Continente. Many of the names likely to be in the mix will be broadly familiar by this stage – think Éverton Ribeiro, Lucas Silva, Gabriel – but the gold rush is usually such that it’s not just the established stars who attract attention.

Without wishing to tempt fate (heaven knows Brazilian football could do with keeping its talented kids for longer), I have picked five youngsters who could be on the radar having enjoyed breakout seasons in 2014. Find out who they are on the WhoScored site.

Brasileirão season review

As any player or fan will tell you, the Campeonato Brasileiro is both a marathon and a sprint. After 38 rounds of action, crammed into five-and-a-half months, we reached the end of the road at the weekend.

Things didn’t exactly go smoothly. The match between Atlético Paranaense and relegation-threatened Vasco was delayed due to horrific fighting in Joinville, attracting the world’s media spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Vasco were eventually condemned to Série B but could appeal, claiming the game never should have been resumed.

Fellow giants Fluminense were also relegated, leaving Brazil striker Fred in tears in the stands. But they too could earn a reprieve, with Portuguesa having fielded an ineligible player in the final round of games. Confusion, as ever, reigned supreme.

When the dust settles, however, this will go down as a fairly momentous year, one in which the Rio-São Paulo axis was thwarted for the first time in a decade. Have a read of my season review on the WhoScored website.

Liverpool target Éverton Ribeiro has the skill and guile to become a star

The standout player for new Brazilian champions Cruzeiro, zippy attacking midfielder Éverton Ribeiro is beginning to attract covetous glances from a number of European clubs. Liverpool have been linked with a January move, while the player himself has declared his admiration for Manchester United.

I've written a scouting report on Éverton for The Mirror, detailing his strengths and weaknesses. Click here to read it.

Fantastic Mr Fox: Party starts early as peerless Cruzeiro cruise to Brazilian title

It was just another win, but somehow also not. They celebrated as if they had won the title, jumping, singing, high-fiving. Crowding round the mildly sinister (it’s the blue moustache) cartoon fox for photos. Tipping buckets of iced water over one another.

The crowd, too, went ice-cream-in-winter crazy. It would be their last glimpse of their champions in their natural habitat until the new year. The party, it seemed safe to assume, would last well into the night.

Let when a trophy was lifted, it was only the home-made-souvenir type. For fate had conspired against them, if only gently. Read the rest of this article on Cruzeiro's slightly premature but entirely deserved title celebrations here.

Brazilian football digest: September

Thwack! Bang! Whoosh! Those sounds, just in case your onomatopoeia radar is playing up today (hey, it happens), are just some of the goals scored this month by a player whose name will be unknown to many outside Brazil. 

In my latest Betting Expert column, I heap praise upon Gilberto, Portuguesa's goal plunderer extraordinaire, and add to the growing pile of plaudits gathered by Série A leaders Cruzeiro. Read it here.

Cruzeiro continue to impress as Belo Horizonte bandwagon rolls on

They may not like it on the bronze beaches of Rio, in São Paulo’s office blocks and in the proud alehouses of Porto Alegre, but Brazilian football has a new epicentre. Since the turn of the year, Belo Horizonte has become the place to be on planet futebol.

First there was the reopening of the historic Mineirão stadium, the spiritual home of the game in the city, after World Cup renovation work that lasted the best part of three years. Without their usual home, Belo Horizonte’s big two – Atlético Mineiro and Cruzeiro – were forced to host matches in neighbouring towns Sete Lagoas and Uberlândia, with predictable consequences for attendance figures.

Atlético have latterly settled in América-MG’s cosy Independência ground, but Cruzeiro immediately reaped the rewards of returning to the Mineirão, embarking on a staggering run of form that saw them win 17 of their first 19 games of 2013.

Read the rest of this article on the WhoScored wesbite here.

Five storylines to follow in Brazil's state championships

Brazilian football is back! After a long, gruelling wait roughly five weeks, the dust has settled on the 2012 season and Corinthians, Fluminense et al have to go out there and earn their stripes all over again. Luckily, for the first few weeks at least, 'out there' remains pretty local; yes, this is state championship season.

Aware that not everybody goes gaga for the whole really-big-teams-playing-really-tiny-teams-for-four-months schtick, I've picked out five storylines that should interest even those sceptical of the value of these regional competitions.

You can read the article at Unibet by clicking here.

(Photo credit: Sergio Barzaghi, Gazeta Press.)

Lionised but cast aside: Alex eyes up Brazil return after eight years in Turkey

“I’ve never cried as much as I did this week,” he sighed as the camera bulbs flashed. He won’t have been the only one. After a fruitful eight-year romance, Brazilian playmaker Alex finalised his departure from Fenerbahçe this week, leaving fans in Turkey to lament the loss of one of its biggest sporting stars.

I've written about Alex's legacy at Fener, as well as his possible destinations in Série A, for the folks over at A Football Report. Click here to read the article.

Cruzeiro Teach Estudiantes a Lesson; Liédson Steps Up for Corinthians

On-pitch events took a back seat in Brazil this week, with the football world rocked by Ronaldo's retirement at the age of 34. Fans of Cruzeiro and Corinthians (the only two Brazilian clubs for whom O Fenômeno featured) would have been particularly upset, but both sides were boosted in midweek; Cruzeiro romped to a historic victory over Estudiantes in the Libertadores, while the Timão appear to have found a new talisman in Liédson, the scorer of both goals in their win over Mogi Mirim.

Cruzeiro 5-0 Estudiantes
There has been precious little fanfare over Cruzeiro since the end of the Brasileirão, which may seem somewhat curious given their excellent performance in that competition (the Raposa finished in second position). However, while a host of Brazilian sides attracted countless new players (and significant media attention) in the offseason, Cruzeiro endured a relatively frustrating month; Leandro Guerreiro and Mauricio Victorino were the only significant signings, whilst star rightback Jonathan was sold to Santos. When you throw in their slow start to the Campeonato Mineiro (which itself starts slowly compared to other state championships), one can understand why expectations were not particularly high ahead of their Libertadores opener. Estudiantes, one of the continent's most consistent teams in recent years (and the side that beat Cruzeiro in the 2009 final) would, in the eyes of most pundits, provide a stern test for Cuca's men.

Revenge, however, can be an effective motivator. Cruzeiro, spurred on by a raucous crowd at the Arena do Jacaré (which translates, wonderfully, as Alligator Arena) flew out of the blocks, taking the lead within the first minute. Wallyson, whose selection over Thiago Ribeiro raised a few eyebrows prior to kick-off, released an effort which ballooned into the net via the leg of an unlucky Estudiantes defender. The visitors looked stunned, but their nightmare was only just beginning. Just fifteen minutes later, Walter Montillo released Roger, who dribbled past Juan Sebastián Verón before slotting home. Roger soon returned the favour, allowing Montillo to round Agustín Orión and net the third.

Foxtrot; Roger celebrates his goal for Cruzeiro.

The interval brought some brief respite for Estudiantes, but their ruthless hosts were soon rubbing salt into their wounds. Montillo, himself an Argentine, was the tormentor in chief; dominating play in midfield and grabbing his second of the night with a wonderful volley from thirty yards. By the time Wallyson bundled home the fifth in the final minutes, the tie was over as a contest, and Cruzeiro fans were already beginning to plot their side's course through the group stage.

It remains to be seen, of course, whether the Raposa can produce this kind of performance on a frequent basis, but Wednesday night's performance will certainly have made the continent sit up and take notice. In many ways, this victory stood as testament to the fact that planning and stability can be just as effective as the kind of explosive transfer market activity which is the norm in Brazil. Sometimes it pays to go under the radar.

Campeonato Carioca Round-up
Flamengo claimed an impressive seventh consecutive win, overcoming Resende thanks to a goal from former Fenerbahçe striker Deivid. Fla will face Botafogo in the semi-final of the Taça Guanabara (the first stage of the Rio state championship), after the latter slipped to a draw against Macaé on Sunday. The other semi will be contested by Fluminense (for whom Rafael Moura scored his fifth goal in three games against Madureira) and minnows Boavista, who beat Nova Iguaçu 5-3.

Ronaldinho embraces Flamengo coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo.

Vasco, who didn't manage to qualify for the knockout stage, at last gave their fans something to cheer about, racking up no fewer than nine goals against América. Both Ramon and Enrico netted braces, and there was a long-awaited goal from veteran playmaker Felipe, who had recently joked that the Romário statue at Vasco's São Januário stadium was more likely to score than he was. Knowing old Baixinho, he'd probably add any such goal to his running total.

Campeonato Paulista Round-up
Palmeiras continued their hegemony of dull victories, beating Americana (yep, you guessed it) 1-0 to maintain their position at the head of the Paulistão. The Verdão fans handed goalscorer Kléber a Brazil shirt after the final whistle as a display of appreciation, but it's the defence that deserves recognition; Palmeiras have conceded just three goals in eight rounds so far. Santos have let in three times that many, but remain just a point behind after a 2-0 win over Noroeste. Genoa-bound Zé Éduardo was on target once more for the Peixe, tucking home coolly after sprinting clear.

Palmeiras hero Kléber battles for possession.

Rogério Ceni scored his 98th career goal (for those who haven't been paying attention, Rogério is a goalkeeper), bending home a free-kick which helped São Paulo scrape past Portuguesa. There was also a début strike for Rhodolfo, a recent acquisition from Atlético Paranaense who looks like Kaká's troubled older brother. The result sent São Paulo up to fifth in the table.

Corinthians, rocked by the departures of Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos (who could yet be joined at Anzhi Makhachkala by midfielder Jucilei), started the week in predictably subdued fashion, toiling to a 0-0 draw with Paulista on Sunday. Things improved last night, however, as new signing Liédson fired them past a stubborn Mogi Mirim side at the Pacaembu. The former Sporting Lisbon striker pounced on a rebound to put the Timão ahead, before displaying even greater opportunism for his second; nipping in to score after Mogi 'keeper João Paulo dallied. These are early days yet, but Corinthians may just have found the man to help them through their current crisis.

Copa Libertadores Round-up
Santos, among the favourites for this season's Libertadores, endured a frustrating start to their campaign, drawing 0-0 with Deportivo Táchira in Venezuela. The Peixe shaded the first half, but were thoroughly outplayed in the second, and likely felt slightly fortunate to even claim one point from the game. Their fans will hope that coach Adílson Batista refrains from resting in-form attackers Maikon Leite and Zé Éduardo in their next game against Cerro Porteño. Reigning champions Internacional were also held away from home; Mário Bolatti's début strike was cancelled out in injury time by Emelec's Fernando Giménez.

At the Olímpico, Grêmio had much more joy; brushing aside Bolivian side Oriente Petrolero to take command of Group 2. Douglas put the Tricolor ahead from the penalty spot after the referee laughably adjudged Diego Terrezas to have handled in the area; the ball had actually struck him in the face. Gílson scrambled home a second for the hosts, before Douglas tucked home to seal the win.

Copa do Brasil Round-up
Flamengo progressed to the second round without recourse to a second match (Brazilian Cup games are decided over two legs, unless the away side wins the first leg by two goals or more), beating Murici 3-0 in the Rei Pelé stadium. Ronaldinho bagged his second goal for the Rubro-Negro, heading home a Léo Moura cross from close range. São Paulo welcomed Brazil U20 star Lucas (who has just renewed his contract with the club) back into their starting lineup for their meeting with Treze, and booked their place in round two thanks to goals from Dagoberto (2) and Fernandinho. Goiás, Uberaba, and Caxias also secured safe passage into the next round.

Best of the Rest
Internacional secured their spot in the knockout stages of the Taça Piratini (the first half of the Campeonato Gaúcho... keep up at the back), beating Pelotas thanks to a hattrick from young striker Leandro Damião. Grêmio, who had already qualified, slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Novo Hamburgo. Atlético Mineiro were victorious in a scintillating Belo Horizonte clássico; three goals from the talismanic Diego Tardelli and one from Neto Berola proved just enough to see off Cruzeiro 4-3.

Selected results. Carioca; Flamengo 1-0 Resende, América 0-9 Vasco, Madureira 0-1 Fluminense, Botafogo 1-1 Macaé. Paulista; Paulista 0-0 Corinthians, Santos 2-0 Noroeste, Palmeiras 1-0 Americana, Portuguesa 2-3 São Paulo, Corinthians 2-0 Mogi Morim. Libertadores; Cruzeiro 5-0 Estudiantes, Grêmio 3-0 Oriente Petrolero, Emelec 1-1 Internacional, Deportivo Táchira 0-0 Santos. Copa do Brasil; Murici 0-3 Flamengo, Treze 0-3 São Paulo.

(Photo credits; (1) Gil Leonardi, (2) Paulo Sergio, (3) Miguel Schincariol.)

Obrigado, Ronaldo Fenômeno!

On Monday, as I'm sure you'll be aware, one of the greatest players of the modern game called time on his professional career. Ronaldo, the star of Brazil's 2002 World Cup triumph, announced that he would be unable to fulfill his contract with Corinthians due to his continuing fitness troubles.


Ronaldo has always been a player close to my heart, and one of my biggest regrets is that I never managed to see him in the flesh. The closest I came was a couple of years ago, when I went to see Corinthians at the Pacaembu, but unfortunately O Fenômeno was injured that day. Unperturbed, I spent a good ten minutes trying to locate him in the directors' box on the opposite side of the stadium, but to no avail; Ronaldo evaded me just like he had all those defenders over the years.

Although deeply saddened by the news of his retirement, I managed to pull myself together and write a tribute to Ronaldo for the lovely folks over at In Bed With Maradona. You can read the article here.

Corinthians Overcome Cruzeiro Thanks to Controversial Penalty; Galo Thrash Flamengo

Round 35 could well prove to be the decisive one in the outcome of the 2010 Campeonato Brasileiro. Corinthians took a huge step towards the title on Saturday night, beating fellow challengers Cruzeiro by one goal to nil. That victory sent the Timão back to the top of Série A, as Fluminense could only manage a draw at home to Goiás. In the race for the final Libertadores spot, Atlético Paranaense leapfrogged Botafogo and Grêmio into fourth place. Down at the bottom, things are tighter than ever; just three points separates six teams above the doomed duo of Grêmio Prudente and Goiás.

Corinthians 1-0 Cruzeiro
A packed Pacaembu awaited, but anyone expecting a rip-roaring game of football between Corinthians and Cruzeiro, two of Série A's most consistent performers this term, was to be disappointed. As so often in football, this most important of games failed to produce a lively spectacle. In fact, all of the drama was condensed into the final five minutes, which at least provided the excitement which had been lacking for the previous 85 minutes.

Corinthians were at full strength, with Dentinho continuing in support of Ronaldo in attack. Midfielders Jucilei and Elias were able to play this game, despite being due in the Middle East for Wednesday's clash between the seleção and Argentina. The Corinthians attack, however, was well contained by the Raposa; Fabrício and Henrique largely nullified the creative threat of the hosts' No.10, Bruno César. Corinthians were reduced to just a handful of efforts in the opening period; Elias twice went close, and Ronaldo smashed an effort just over the bar. At the other end, Cruzeiro offered little, but could have had a penalty when Thiago Ribeiro went down under the challenge of Júlio César.

Jucilei and Ronaldo salute the home crowd after their vital win.

The second half brought some improvement; Ronaldo and Thiago Ribeiro both missed presentable chances, and the entrance of Jorge Henrique momentarily sparked the Timão's fans into life. Cruzeiro really ought to have taken the lead with ten minutes to go, but Wellington Paulista could only shoot at Júlio César with the goal gaping. The visitors would live to regret their profligacy; Corinthians were awarded a penalty in the dying minutes of the game, after Gil barged Ronaldo in the area. The Cruzeiro players protested furiously; Fabrício and Gilberto were booked for their troubles, and coach Cuca was sent to the stands. The decision was certainly a debatable one, but the challenge from the Raposa centre-back was a clumsy one. Ronaldo stepped up and coolly tucked the spot-kick away to put Corinthians in pole position in the title race.

Gameweek 35 Round-up
Back on Wednesday evening, Botafogo travelled to Fortaleza with the hope of resuscitating their Libertadores dreams, but could only draw 2-2 with Ceará. 'Loco' Abreu flicked home a cross to put O Glorioso ahead, but in-form Magno Alves levelled matters following Leandro Guerreiro's error. Veteran midfielder Geraldo then smashed home a glorious second for the home side, before Abreu equalised; the Uruguayan turned expertly before slotting into the far corner. Joel Santana's men slip to fifth, but remain ahead of Santos and Grêmio, who battled to a goalless draw at the Vila Belmiro.

Atlético Goianiense appear to be edging closer to safety, and recorded a convincing 3-0 win over Palmeiras at the Serra Dourada. Gilson headed the Dragão into the lead, and a brace of instinctive finishes from Robston sealed the victory. Meanwhile, two of the more realistic relegation candidates, Guarani and Vitória, earnt a point apiece in their clash. Adaílton tucked home from close range to put Vitória ahead, but Geovane responded immediately for the hosts; his corner snuck in off the far post for a gol olímpico. Atlético Paranaense snuck into the top four on Sunday, with a win over Grêmio Prudente. SKP favourite Paulo Baier was the star of the show, netting a first half penalty and adding a second with a placed header. Willian José netted for the Abelha, but they couldn't find a way back into the game.

Atlético-MG goalscorers Obina and Renan Oliveira celebrate the latter's second strike.

When Vanderlei Luxemburgo's torrid spell with Atlético Mineiro came to an end in October, he would have been forgiven for thinking that the Flamengo job represented the perfect coaching tonic. The Rubro-Negro, while a shadow of the team that won last year's title, looked safe in mid-table. How ironic, then, that the club that Luxemburgo left in the relegation zone should drag his current club into the very same battle for survival; Atlético thrashed Fla 4-1 at the Arena do Jacaré, and now sit just a point behind the Rio side. The Galo took the lead when Obina (a former Flamengo player) pounced on Marcelo Lomba's fumble, and added a second through Renan Oliveira. Diego Tardelli added a third with a classy individual effort, before Renan Oliveira scrambled home his second of the game. Marquinhos' late goal was all that Fla could manage.

Fluminense fluffed their lines in the title race, slumping to a 1-1 draw with struggling Goiás at the Engenhão. Rafael Moura opened the scoring for the Esmeraldino with a trademark header, and Flu again had Darío Conca to thank for their point; the Argentine drilled home a late penalty after Rodriguinho had dived in the area. At the São Januário, Vasco took the lead against São Paulo with a stunning Éder Luís strike, but had to settle for a draw when Lucas Gaúcho stylishly flicked home with ten minutes remaining.

Fluminense midfielder Deco stretches for a loose ball.

Avaí boosted their survival hopes with an impressive 3-2 win away to Internacional. The Florianópolis side took the lead with just 15 seconds on the clock, with one of the best goals you're ever likely to see. Inter actually kicked off, but Alecsandro's slack pass gave the ball straight to Rudnei. Avaí then launched an unstoppable passing move down the right, culminating in a stunning finish from right-back Patric. Que golaço! Batista added a second for the visitors with a deflected strike, but Inter showed their mettle to fight back to 2-2; Leandro Damião tucked away a neat finish, before Rafael Sobis dug out a glorious lofted equaliser. This was to be Avaí's day, however, and they snatched the win with another tidy move; Caio's through ball found Patric, whose chipped cross was nodded home by Robinho. A great result for Avaí, who are finally returning to the attacking football that served them so well early in the campaign.

Results; Ceará 2-2 Botafogo, Atlético-MG 4-1 Flamengo, Santos 0-0 Grêmio, Corinthians 1-0 Cruzeiro, Fluminense 1-1 Goiás, Internacional 2-3 Avaí, Guarani 1-1 Vitória, Atlético-GO 3-0 Palmeiras, Vasco 1-1 São Paulo, Atlético-PR 2-1 Grêmio Prudente.

(Photo credits; (1) Ari Ferreira, (2) Gil Leonardi, (3) Paulo Sergio.)

Behind Enemy Lines; the Argentines Taking the Brasileirão by Storm

My latest piece for IBWM is about the recent success of Darío Conca and Walter Montillo, two players who are continuing the trend of Argentines impressing in the Brasileirão. You can read the article here.

Galo Knock Cruzeiro Off Top Spot; Corinthians Finally Back On Track

The Campeonato Brasileiro threw up no fewer than four clássicos this weekend, in what proved to be an absorbing rodada 31. The Rio and Porto Alegre derbies finished all square, and there was a narrow win for Corinthians in their clash with Palmeiras. Most exciting of all, however, was Sunday's game at the Parque do Sabiá...

Cruzeiro 3-4 Atlético-MG

Since joining the club a month ago today, Dorival Júnior has brought about a real change of fortune at Atlético Mineiro. A side packed full of quality (consider attackers Diego Souza, Daniel Carvalho, and Diego Tardelli for starters) was languishing in the relegation zone, and had looked utterly directionless under the management of Vanderlei Luxemburgo. Thirty days later, the Galo have moved out of the drop zone, having picked up 13 points out of a possible 18 since Dorival's arrival. The club's position, admittedly, remains precarious, but recent league form (and progress to the Copa Sul-Americana quarter-finals) has instilled a renewed sense of positivity among fans of the Belo Horizonte side.

Obina celebrates his hat-trick goal for Atlético Mineiro.

Atlético's local rivals Cruzeiro have enjoyed a comparatively smooth season, building on a solid start to mount a title push in recent weeks. The tactical nous of Cuca, coupled with the mercurial talents of Argentine playmaker Walter Montillo, has propelled the Raposa into the position of real Serie A contenders; they entered the derby in first place in the table, despite last week's loss to Grêmio.

Atlético came flying out of the traps, and sensationally raced to a three goal lead within thirty minutes. Two goals from Obina got the scoring underway; the forward stylishly converted Leandro's left-wing cross, before profitting from some indecision among the Cruzeiro defence to steer past Fábio. The Raposa were then presented with a golden chance to reduce the arrears, but Montillo contrived to miss the target with a cheeky chipped penalty. The No.10 looked understandably embarrassed, and his misery was compounded by another ruthless Galo attack; Serginho skipped clear on the right before squaring for Obina to complete his hat-trick. Cruzeiro were reeling, although they did manage to pull one back before the break when former Tottenham man Gilberto crashed home from the edge of the area.

The chances continued to flow in the second period, and Cruzeiro went twice close through Ernesto Farías and Marquinhos Paraná. Atlético, though, would land one more sucker punch on their opponents; Rever rose highest from a corner to give the Galo a 4-1 lead with just a quarter of the match remaining. Cruzeiro, to their credit, rallied with a Thiago Ribeiro brace, but were frustrated by some stubborn Atletico defending in the final minutes. A great win for Dorival Júnior's charges, and a spanner in the works of Cruzeiro's title hopes.

Gameweek 31 Round-up
After eight consecutive draws (!), Botafogo finally picked up maximum points, beating Vitória at the Engenhão. Left wing-back Marcelo Cordeiro scored the game's only goal, bending home a sumptuous free-kick from 25 yards. The result saw Vitória slip into the relegation zone after Atlético Goianiense's 1-0 win over Guarani. Marcão made the difference for the Dragão, slotting a finish under Douglas in the Guarani goal. Avai are also in deep trouble at the bottom; the Florianópolis side went down to a Bernado penalty against Goiás.

Ceará put an end to São Paulo's resurgent form, beating the Tricolor 2-0 in baking hot conditions at the Castelão. Magno Alves put the Vozão ahead with a firm header, before Diego Sacoman's rocket from distance sealed the three points. In another midtable clash, Flamengo came from behind to hold Vasco in the clássico Carioca. The São Januário club took the lead in the first half; Cesinha acrobatically turning home after the ball had come back off the woodwork. Vasco were reduced to ten men after Dedé's horror challenge on Willians, and the Rubro-Negro made the numbers pay, equalising through Renato Abreu's glancing header.

Corinthians were boosted by the return of Bruno César.

After a torrid month, Corinthians finally got back to winning ways, overcoming city rivals Palmeiras at the Pacaembu. New boss Tite had the resources at his disposal to employ a more attacking system than Adílson Batista had been using; the strike duo of Ronaldo and Iarley (O Fenômeno and the Paul Dickov look-alike form quite a heartwarming pairing, incidentally) were supported by Bruno César, Elias, and Jucilei all breaking from midfield. Perhaps even more crucial was the availability of the side's first choice back four for the first time since August 22nd; Chicão recovered from injury to take his place alongside William, Alessandro, and Roberto Carlos. It was talismanic midfielder Bruno César who secured the three points, thumping a shot which cannoned off a defender and past the helpless Deola. The Timão, despite their recent troubles, find themselves just one point off the pace at the head of Série A.

Ahead of Corinthians are Cruzeiro and Fluminense; the latter returned to the top of the Brasileirão with a 2-2 draw against Atlético Paranaense at the Arena da Baixada. Washington headed into his own net to give the Furacão the lead, but Marquinho levelled with an exceptional volley. Wagner Diniz netted from a tight angle to put the home side ahead once more, only for Darío Conca to earn Muricy Ramalho's men a point with a late penalty.

A typically raucous crowd inside Grêmio's Estádio Olímpico were treated to an exciting Gre-Nal clash on Sunday. In a tight first half, it was the Tricolor who struck first; Douglas' tempting free-kick was flicked home by André Lima. Inter drew level after Grêmio midfielder Fábio Rochemback indulged in some goalkeeping practice whilst guarding the near post. The ex-Middlesbrough player was rightly sent off, and Alecsandro coolly stroked home the resulting penalty kick. The hosts regained the lead with a wonderful goal. Douglas found André Lima, who picked out Fábio Santos with a smart first-time ball. The Grêmio left-back powered into the box before rifling past Renan. Golaço! It seemed that derby #383 between these two was going to end with a Grêmio win, but a moment of magic from Andrés D' Alessandro ensured that the spoils were shared. The Argentine created half a yard of space outside the area before arrowing a drive into the bottom corner.

André Lima gains a congratulatory kick from Grêmio boss Renato Gaúcho.

Santos fans were in celebratory mood on Sunday, due to the 70th birthday of Pelé, the club's biggest idol. The Peixe faced Grêmio Prudente, who initially appeared content to play the role of whipping boys in the Vila Belmiro carnival; Keirrison headed home his first goal for Santos, before defender Durval blasted home a second. The Abelha, however, would go about ruining the party after the interval; Wesley bagged a quickfire brace, before Gilmar polished off a glorious breakaway team effort. Santos hardly knew what had hit them; the crowd's patter had switched from "Rei!" to "eh?!" in just fifteen minutes. With just seven games left, this lapse could come back to haunt the seasiders.

Results; Botafogo 1-0 Vitória, Guarani 0-1 Atlético-GO, Corinthians 1-0 Palmeiras, Goiás 1-0 Avaí, Ceará 2-0 São Paulo, Atlético-PR 2-2 Fluminense, Cruzeiro 3-4 Atlético-MG, Santos 2-3 Grêmio Prudente, Grêmio 2-2 Internacional, Vasco 1-1 Flamengo.

(Photo credits; (1) Celio Messias, (2) Eduardo Viana, (3) Ricardo Rimoli.)

Cruzeiro Go Top After Win Over Flu; Batista Sacked Following Corinthians Loss

Another set of games in the Brasileirão, and another head rolls; this time Corinthians boss Adílson Batista was the unlucky party, dismissed after watching his side go down to Atlético Goianiense. That result allowed Cruzeiro, who claimed a narrow win over Fluminense, to assume the leadership of Série A...

Cruzeiro 1-0 Fluminense

In a league with so many managerial changes, there seems to be a classic "coach comes back to haunt his former employers" story on an almost weekly basis. So it was on Sunday at the Parque do Sabiá, when Cuca, sacked as Flu coach earlier this year, led Cruzeiro to a victory that saw them leapfrog the Tricolor into first place in Série A. The Belo Horizonte side have been in scintillating form of late (they have now won ten of their last fourteen games), largely due to the revitalising arrival of Cuca and some smart signings including the Argentine playmaker Walter Montillo.

Cruzeiro forward Wellington Paulista holds of Gum of Fluminense.

The No.10 lined up in his familiar role behind strikers Thiago Ribeiro and Wellington Paulista; the former a pacy player who drifts wide, and the latter a more pure finisher. Behind the attacking trio, the Raposa employ a rather prosaic system; plenty of midfield protection for the defence has been the key to the league's meanest defence. Muricy Ramalho again had to make do without star striker Fred, who limped off the pitch in last week's game against Santos. With Emerson also out, he again turned to Rodriguinho to provide the foil for Washington up front. Thiaguinho filled in at right-back for Mariano, who is on seleção duty.

Fluminense had the better of the early chances; Conca testing Fábio, and Washington twice failing to properly connect with tempting crosses. Cruzeiro, however, would only need one opportunity. Montillo, unusually subdued for much of the tie, produced a moment of class, chipping a glorious cross into the path of Wellington Paulista. The forward still had plenty to do, but stretched to arc a subtle header past Rafael in the Flu goal. The Rio giants almost replied before the interval, but Rodriguinho blazed over.

Both sides lost some impetus when Deco and Montillo limped off injured, but Cruzeiro continued to create chances in the second period. The lively Wellington Paulista was denied a second initially by the woodwork, and then by a tight offside decision. Solid throughout, Cuca's men would allow Flu only one real chance before the final whistle; it fell to Rodriguinho, who again skied his shot when it looked easier to score. Joy for Cruzeiro, while Muricy Ramalho has some thinking to do.

Gameweek 29 Round-up

Atlético Paranaense continue to struggle after the departure of Paulo César Carpegiani, losing 2-0 to Santos. Substitute Maranhão put the Peixe with a low drive, before Neymar was brought down in the area. The youngster, who also assisted the first, finally showed a sign of growing maturity, allowing the in-form Zé Éduardo to stroke home the spot kick. The win allowed Santos to leapfrog Botafogo, who could only draw 0-0 with Palmeiras. The game was not without incident, however; 'Loco' Abreu missed a penalty for O Glorioso, and Kléber was sent off for lashing out at Alessandro.

Grêmio's in-form striker Jonas (centre) celebrates with partner André Lima.

Grêmio's fine form looked to be ending at the São Januário, but a fine comeback allowed them to rescue a point against Vasco da Gama. The home side went ahead early on when Éder Luís beat the offside trap and slotted home, but Jonas replied for Grêmio with a delightful long range strike. Cesinha's header and a deflected Felipe Bastos free-kick put Vasco in command, but they were pegged back by another sensational strike from Jonas. The striker sylishly tucked home his 19th goal in the Brasileirão (and his 40th in 2010) after a one-two with André Lima. With time running out, Gabriel swung his left foot at a loose ball, and watched in joy as it beat Fernando Prass at his near post. Frustration for Vasco, joy for the Tricolor.

São Paulo picked up a good away win against Grêmio Prudente thanks in large part to a hat-trick from forward Ricardo Oliveira. The former Zaragoza man bent in a free-kick from fully thirty yards to open his account, only for Wesley to equalise scrappily at the other end. Oliveira doubled his tally with a cool finish following Rodrigo Souto's masterful through ball, before rifling a third in off the bar. Wesley tucked home a smart finish in injury time, but it would prove no more than a consolation for the Abelha, who remain stranded at the bottom of the table. Above them, however, an enthralling five-way (seven-way, if you count Flamengo and Guarani) battle against relegation is developing, after Goiás claimed a vital win over Vitória. Bernardo's well-struck free kick was enough to seal all three points for Jorginho's men. Atlético Mineiro, however, could not maintain their recent form, going to down 1-0 to Internacional. It was a busy day for Alecsandro, who headed home the winner for the Colorado before receiving a late red card for a rash challenge on Alê.

Ceará comfortably saw off Guarani at the Castelão thanks to first half goals from Geraldo and Boiadeiro. The former (a veteran midfielder) just stretched enough to poke the Vovô ahead (although he may not be able to walk in the morning), before the latter floated a fine free-kick into the top corner of Douglas' net. Vanderlei Luxemburgo's Flamengo appeared to have done enough for a second consecutive win against Avaí at the Ressacada; Val Baiano netted a brace of close-range finishes to give the Rubro-Negro a 2-0 lead at the break. The Leão da Ilha reacted magnificently, however, reducing the arrears through Emerson's header, before levelling when Roberto glanced home a corner.

Adílson Batista looks on as his Corinthians career collapses.

Corinthians have been a relatively stable club since their return to Série A, and that looked to have continued with the reign of Adílson Batista. When the 42 year-old assumed his coaching post in July in the wake of Mano Menezes' step up to the seleção, he represented an almost seamless transition into a new regime; keeping faith with the players and tactics that had served his predecessor so well, and maintaining the side among the top two. Things change quickly in Brazilian football, however, and after the Timão's loss to Atlético-GO (their fifth straight game without a win) Batista was shown the door. Things started well for Corinthians when Leandro Castán's instinctive finish put them ahead within two minutes, but what followed showed a frailty that has not frequently been present in recent times. Juninho's scrambled effort brought Atlético level, before Gilson found himself in acres of space to put the Dragão in front. Marcão coolly added a third, provoking the home fans to boo their own players into the dressing room. Marcão repeated the trick after the break, drilling home to put the Atlético fans in dreamland. The dye was cast well before William Morais and Thiago Heleno found the net late on for the hosts; Corinthians were down to third, and will be looking for their third coach of the campaign.

Results; Santos 2-0 Atlético-PR, Grêmio Prudente 2-3 São Paulo, Vasco 3-3 Grêmio, Avaí 2-2 Flamengo, Corinthians 3-4 Atlético-GO, Goiás 1-0 Vitória, Cruzeiro 1-0 Fluminense, Botafogo 0-0 Palmeiras, Ceará 2-0 Guarani, Internacional 1-0 Atlético-MG.

(Photo credits; (1) Beto Oliveira, (2) Paulo Sergio, (3) Eduardo Viana.)

Inter and São Paulo Reach Libertadores Semis; Fla and Cruzeiro Lose Out

There were mixed fortunes for the Brazilian clubs in this week's Libertadores quarter-final second legs; São Paulo and Internacional progressed to the semi-finals, while Cruzeiro and Flamengo lost out.

São Paulo 2-0 Cruzeiro
The Tricolor exacted revenged on Cruzeiro almost a year to the day after the Belo Horizonte side knocked them out of the 2009 competition. Going into the game at the Morumbi with a two goal advantage from the first leg, São Paulo were firm favourites to advance. Cruzeiro's slim hopes were all but dashed in the opening minutes, when their talismanic striker Kléber was sent off after catching Richarlyson with a stray hand. Reminiscent of Thiago Motta's sending off in the Champions League semi-final, the decision was a harsh one. After the game, a visibly frustrated Kléber criticised Richarlyson for play-acting, quipping that "Ricky's like that...it always hurts him more [than it does others]."

Kléber sees red at the Morumbi.

The home side took the lead mid-way through the first half, after good work by Júnior César. The wingback beat two men on the left touchline and crossed for the onrushing Hernanes, who blasted into the top corner. The São Paulo No.10 proceeded to celebrate in what has become typical fashion, standing and shouting like a madman. The victory was secured in the second half, when Dagoberto gathered a Fernandão knock-down and cooly lobbed Raposa 'keeper Fábio. The quality of São Paulo's football has improved markedly since the arrival of Fernandão, and they look a good bet to go all the way in this competition.

Estudiantes 2-1 Internacional
São Paulo will meet Inter in the semi-final, after the Porto Alegre side battled to an impressive aggregate win over reigning champions Estudiantes. Despite losing an intense game in La Plata, the Colorado progress on away goals, having won the first leg 1-0. Estudiantes started brightly, and took the lead through Léandro González. A visionary ball from Juan Sebastián Véron found the striker in space, with ample time to beat a stranded Pato Abbondanzieri. The Inter 'keeper got his positioning all wrong, and looked generally shaky all match.

Within minutes, it was two. Enzo Pérez received the ball from a throw-in, and was allowed all the time in the world to curl a sumptuous effort into the top corner from 20 yards. The second half saw Inter huffing and puffing, but creating nothing; Estudiantes looked set to hold firm. This, however was to be Inter's night. In the 89th minute, Andrezinho found substitute Giuliano, who placed his finish low into the corner. The Colorado players celebrated like they'd won the competition, but regained concentration to see out the last moments of the game.

Giuliano; Inter's hero in La Plata.

What had been a great spectacle was marred somewhat by events after the final whistle. Numerous scuffles broke out over the pitch and in the tunnel, and the away side's reserve keeper Lauro was caught on camera landing a forearm blow on an unexpecting Estudiantes player. When the emotions cool, however, Inter will reflect on a historic win, and start planning for their all-Brazilian semi-final date.

Universidad 1-2 Flamengo
Victory in Santiago was not enough for Flamengo, who were knocked out on away goals having lost the home leg 3-2. The Rubro-Negro went down fighting, however, and took the lead late in the first half, when Vágner Love headed home after a spectacular overhead kick from Adriano. The home side settled their nerves in the second period with a wonder goal from Montillo. The Argentine dribbled past Juan, advanced into the Fla half, and crafted an impudent chip which gave Bruno no chance. To Flamengo's credit, they set up a tense finale by bagging an intricate second with 15 minutes to go. A Petkovic flick was backheeled by Adriano into the path of Léo Moura, who returned the favour, giving Adriano a simple finish. It turned out to be too little, too late, however, leaving the Brazilian side to lament what could have been. Universidad will meet Mexican side Chivas in the second semi-final.

(Photo credits; (1) Tom Dib, (2) AFP.)