Porto Alegre giants Internacional facing up to life in the second flight after year to forget on and off the pitch

2006 was a high watermark in the history of Sport Club Internacional. The side from Porto Alegre won the Copa Libertadores for the first time and, just before Christmas, came to global attention by beating Barcelona in the final of the Club World Cup.

Under normal circumstances, the tenth anniversary of that golden year would have prompted a fresh wave of celebration; Brazilian clubs rarely need an excuse to hark back to past glories, after all.

But few fans had much time for the commemorative medals and sticker books that hit the market in 2016, for Inter endured an annus horribilis both on and off the pitch.

You can read about their plight in the February edition of When Saturday Comes magazine, which is available in newsagents and on their website.

Inter the abyss: Struggling Internacional in need of a miracle as first ever relegation beckons

It wasn't meant to be this way for Internacional. Their opening eight matches of the Brasileirão season yielded 19 points – enough to take them to head of the table, three points clear of the chasing pack. A good season looked in prospect.

Since then, however... well, you could only really call it a disaster. Inter went on a 14-game winless run, sacked three managers and, with two seasons of the season remaining, find themselves in the relegation zone.

They have never been relegated from Brazil's top flight, but the Colorado now need a miracle – or a couple of them – if they're to avoid demotion on the weeks ahead. Read about their situation in my latest for WhoScored.

A rope for Dopey: Dunga the latest to learn that Brazilian football waits for no man

The best manager in the world to share a name with one of the Seven Dwarfs is out of work again.

Dunga (‘Dopey’ in Portuguese) was dismissed by Internacional last week, just 10 months after taking over at the Porto Alegre club. His stewardship yielded 26 wins in 53 games, but a winless streak in September proved too difficult for the club’s hierarchy to ignore.

Read the rest of this article, on the former Brazil boss, on the Yahoo! Eurosport website.

The week(end) that was - #4

It has been a fine few days for Diego Forlán, whose goalscoring exploits have played a major part in Internacional's strong start to the year. Neymar and Abel Braga had rather less enjoyable weeks, however...

Forlán's class begins to show

Diego Forlán did not enjoy the most fruitful start to his career in Brazil, struggling to make his mark in an Internacional side that had a year to forget in 2012. But the early signs are that the current campaign will be rather kinder to the Uruguayan. His fine double against Esportivo at the weekend took him to six goals for the season and earnt Inter a place in the final of the Taça Piratini – the opening stage of the Rio Grande do Sul state championship. Forlán also netted in the quarter-final against bitter rivals Grêmio.

The 33-year-old has benefitted greatly from the seriousness with which Inter have treated the Gauchão. While Grêmio have been content to play reserve sides and preserve their stars for the Copa Libertadores, the Colorado have put pedal to the metal in an attempt to kickstart a year that they hope will be crowned with a major title. As a result, Forlán has enjoyed plenty of game time alongside Leandro Damião, with whom he is beginning to form a tidy partnership: the pair have bagged nine of the 12 goals scored by Dunga's first-choice XI in 2013. If they can take that form into the Brasileirão, Inter could finally mount a serious title challenge.


Lighten up, Abel

Vasco da Gama beat Fluminense on Saturday to reach the final of the first half of the Campeonato Carioca (keep up at the back!). This was less a game of two halves than one of four quarters, which played out like a Mogwai song: quiet-quiet-quiet-LOUDER-THAN-BOMBS. The game was goalless going into the closing stages, only for five goals – spread over two comebacks – to hit fans at the Engenhão like a flurry of punches. (A poor cameraman, incidentally, was probably the only one nursing actual bruises, after getting knocked to the ground by an over-jubilant Bernardo.)

In the post-match press conference Fluminense boss Abel Braga could have sounded off about his side's defending, but chose instead to hit out at Vasco substitute Dakson (yes, really) for having the impudence to back-heel the ball to a team-mate in the dying minutes. This wasn't a case of the youngster just playing to the gallery – the pass set up a promising attack – but even that would hardly be a crime. Braga, as Estadão columnist Artero Greco noted, would do well to lighten up: "There are worse things in football than a bit of showboating. Football is being infested by a wave of grumpiness."

Disciplinary worries for Neymar

It wasn't long ago that Neymar was earning praise for his philosophical attitude to being fouled, oh, seventy thousand times per match. This week, however, the striker is in the dock for his own disciplinary record. His booking against São Paulo in the clássico paulista was the 66th of his nascent career, a figure which is beginning to provide cause for concern. That the caution was (correctly) meted out for diving only confirms that, for all his abundant skill, Neymar still lacks a little of the maturity present in the very best players.

(On an unrelated note, here's a fine statistic on the commercial importance of Neymar to Santos. The average attendance at Santos' Vila Belmiro stadium when Neymar plays, since January 2012: 10,563. When he doesn't: 5,852. The Peixe have 18 months to find another way (or another starlet) to lure those fair-weather fans on a more frequent basis – or at least ensure that they cash in on them while Neymar is still around.)


Cruising on the continent

Palmeiras aside, it was a fine week for Brazilian sides in the Libertadores. São Paulo snuck past The Strongest (ahem), Corinthians beat Millonarios in an empty Pacaembu, while Fluminense went top off Group 8 with a win against Huachipato in Chile. The best performance of the lot, though, came in Argentina, where Atlético Mineiro dispatched Arsenal de Sarandí 5-2. Ronaldinho was again influential for the Galo but was barged out of the spotlight by Bernard, scorer of three goals in his first club game outside his homeland. With Brazilian sides performing so strongly, the grip of the country's recent continental hegemony could yet tighten further.


... and finally

This guy turned 60 yesterday. Parabéns, mestre!

(Photo credits: Alexandre Lops, Ari Ferreira.)

Forward Thinking: Why Leandro Damião Would Shine at Spurs

Continually linked with a move to the Premier League over the last year, Leandro Damião is undoubtedly one of the most sought-after youngsters currently playing in the Campeonato Brasileiro. The striker, who caught the eye with a series of commanding displays for Brazil in the Olympic Games, has already attracted two multi-million pound offers from Tottenham Hotspur, who remain hopeful of reaching a deal with Internacional.

With so much speculation surrounding Damião's future, I've written a profile of him for Unibet. Therein, I discuss his impact in Brazil, and argue that his robust style makes him perfectly suited to the English game. You can find the piece here.

Oscar Winners: Why Chelsea Are Chasing Brazil's Latest Sensation

One of the best players in Brazil over the last year, Oscar has shot to international prominence over the last few weeks due to his proposed transfer to Chelsea. With that deal looking increasingly likely (Internacional president Giovanni Luigi admitted that a verbal agreement is in place between the two clubs), it appears that English football fans will get a first hand look the man who looks set to make Brazil's No.10 his own over the next decade.

I've written a profile of Oscar for the lovely folks at Life's a Pitch, in which I discuss his strengths and how he may be used by Roberto Di Matteo.

To read the piece, click here.

(Photo credit: Alexandro Auler/Latin Content/Getty Images.)

Libertadores Preview

The group stages of the Copa Libertadores kick off tonight, to the considerable delight of fans around the continent. South America's greatest club competition continues to hold considerable allure, uniting a range of footballing cultures as distinguished as they are distinct.


With Brazil represented by no fewer than six teams in this year's edition, I though it worthwhile to preview the competition from a Brazilian perspective. At least three Brazilian clubs, I suggest, will have realistic pretensions of lifting the trophy come July. (Although I don't actually name which three... so, for the record: Santos, Inter, Corinthians.)

The article can be found on the ever-excellent In Bed With Maradona, and by clicking here.

Damião Fires Inter to Recopa Glory; Rio Clubs Progress in Sul-Americana

Roll up, roll up! Welcome to the Brazilian midweek football variety show! With no fewer than three competitions taking place, there was something for everyone this week; the second leg of the Recopa Sul-Americana between Internacional and Independiente, the return ties of the all-Brazilian Copa Sul-Americana qualifiers, and even a little morsel of Brasileirão action. On with the show!

Internacional 3-1 Independiente (4-3 on aggregate)
New Inter coach Dorival Júnior must be counting his blessings. Having spend the last few months slogging away at Atlético Mineiro (to precious little avail), his arrival in Porto Alegre instantly coincided with the Colorado's second super cup title; a triumph that reaffirms their status as continental heavyweights. In truth (and as Dorival humbly admitted in his post-match press conference), he had his new charges to thank. Internacional's is a relatively settled squad; players such as Andrés D'Alessandro, Pablo Guiñazú, Índio, and Bolívar have all remained loyal to the Beira-Rio side, and form an enviable spine. Wednesday's victory, however, belonged to a relative newcomer to the Inter scene.

É campeão! Inter captain Bolívar lifts the Recopa trophy.

Leandro Damião has been in majestic form this year; the striker has built on the promise of last season, racking up over 30 goals for the Colorado in 2011. He added two more to his tally against Independiente, and in some style too. His first was a wonderful individual effort; Damião picked the ball up near the corner flag, sashayed between two bewildered defenders, before poking a shot into the far corner. The second - a well-struck left-footed volley - was less flashy, but provided ample evidence of the 22-year-old's superb technique. Not bad for a player who, just four years ago, was playing at semi-professional level in the São Paulo region.

To their credit, Independiente rallied in the second period; Maxi Velázquez fired past Muriel immediately after the interval to raise Argentine hopes. This, though, was to be Inter's night. With the final whistle approaching, former Manchester City striker Jô was fouled in the area, giving referee Jorge Larrionda no option but to award a penalty. Experienced left-back Kléber swept home from the spot, sending the Beira-Rio into raptures. One worry, though, will linger in the minds of the Inter faithful. The club's last Recopa victory, in 2007, preceded the sale of Alexandre Pato to Milan. The departure of Leandro Damião - which looks probable in January, if not now - would complete a bitter symmetry.

Copa Sul-Americana Round-up
It was a great week for the carioca sides in the Sul-Americana; all three of Rio's representatives secured safe passage to the last 16 of the competition. Botafogo - who did most of the hard work in the first leg - saw off Atlético Mineiro at the Engenhão, thanks largely to one of the worst penalty decisions of the year so far. Galo defender Leonardo Silva was rugby-tackled by Herrera, and looked on in utter horror as he proceeded to be penalised and booked. Herrera himself held back the giggles to convert the resultant spot kick. Vasco also reached the next round, despite being beaten 3-1 by Palmeiras on Thursday night. Former Verdão midfielder Jumar netted the all-important away goal for Vasco, blasting home from range.

Parado na área; Ronaldinho celebrates his goal with Guilherme Negueba.

São Paulo made short work of their qualifier, easing past Ceará at the Morumbi. Brazil startlet Lucas was on fine form, drilling home a fine effort before turning provider for Dagoberto. Flamengo also had a relatively comfortable evening; the Rubro-Negro struck late to seal a 2-0 aggregate victory over Atlético-PR. Ronaldinho bagged the goal for Fla with a simple header, but received considerably more attention for his celebration; a send-up of the dance from the song Parado na Esquina. Anything other than the João Sorrisão celebration is fine by me.

Brasileirão Round-up
Santos played the second of their three games in hand on Wednesday night, hosting Fluminense at the Vila. Neymar celebrated the birth of his first son Davi Lucca with some playground magic, but it would be Série A top scorer Borges who shot the Peixe to victory; he struck twice in the first half to render Rafael Moura's goal irrelevant. Finally, here were signs that Santos are reawakening after their post-Libertadores slumber; unfortunately, they're now fully sixteen points off the pace.

Results. Recopa Sul-Americana; Internacional 3-1 Independiente (4-3 on aggregate). Copa Sul-Americana; Atlético-PR 0-1 Flamengo (0-2 on aggregate), Botafogo 1-0 Atlético-MG (3-1 on aggregate), São Paulo 3-0 Ceará (4-2 on aggregate), Palmeiras 3-1 Vasco (3-3 on aggregate; Vasco progress on away goals). Série A; Santos 2-1 Fluminense.

(Photo credits; (1) Neco Varella, (2) Felipe Gabriel.)

Advantage Independiente in Recopa; Rio Clubs Start Well in Copa Sul-Americana

A slightly different midweek round-up for you this time, reader. With the Brasileirão finally taking a breather from its relentless HERE'S TWENTY GAMES EVERY SEVEN DAYS, DEAL WITH IT rhetoric, some rather more unobtrusive competitions crawled into the spotlight. Firstly, there was the start of the Copa Sul-Americana (the South American equivalent of the Europa League, for all you Europhiles), which pitted a group of not-quite-the-best-but-certainly-not-the-worst-thank-you Brazilian clubs against one another. The first leg of the Recopa Sul-Americana (which involves last year's Libertadores winners facing their Sul-Americana equivalents) between Independiente and Internacional also took place. In Colombia, meanwhile, the Brazil U20 side continued their World Cup campaign. Oh, and for all you stick-in-the-muds, there was a single Série A game to tide us over until the weekend. Deep breath now...

Independiente 2-1 Internacional
Much water has passed under the bridge since Internacional won the Libertadores last year. Twelve months, one Club World Cup disaster and two coaches later, the Colorado travelled to Argentina, hoping to add the Recopa to their trophy cabinet. The hosts, who defeated Brazilian side Goiás to claim the continent's secondary prize in 2010, started strongly; Inter 'keeper Muriel was peppered with shots early on. On a rare foray forward, however, the Porto Alegre side snatched the lead; a cross from Nei was deflected into the path of Leandro Damião, who turned expertly home.

Inter orbit; Andrés D'Alessandro probes for an opening against Independiente.

Independiente quickly reestablished their dominance, equalising through Maxi Velázquez and laying siege to the Inter goal after the break. When Marco Pérez finally bagged the winner with a deflected free-kick, the Avellaneda sighed with relief; a draw would have flattered the visitors enormously. Caretaker boss Osmar Loss (or Dorival Júnior, the man likely to be taking over) will hope for better at the Beira-Rio.

Copa Sul-Americana Round-up
With his Flamengo side setting the pace in the Campeonato Brasileiro, Vanderlei Luxemburgo would be forgiven for taking continental competition with a pinch of salt this year. The 59-year-old duly rested some of his key players for Wednesday's clash with Atlético-PR; Thiago Neves and Renato Abreu were rested, whilst Diego Maurício earnt a rare start in attack. A tight match was eventually settled by Ronaldinho, who came off the bench to convert a late penalty. The Furacão must win the second leg to stand a chance of progressing. Botafogo also have one foot in the next round; goals from Herrera and Maicosuel helped them to a 2-1 win over Atlético Mineiro.

Higher power; Diego Souza (second left) celebrates his goal against Palmeiras.

In Fortaleza, an injury time strike from Marcelo Nicácio handed Ceará a narrow victory over São Paulo. The Tricolor, who had led the match thanks to Rivaldo's close range effort, have work to do at the Morumbi. Vasco, meanwhile, completed a good set of results for the Rio de Janeiro clubs, brushing aside Palmeiras at the São Januário. The Gigante da Colina went ahead in fortuitous fashion - Bernardo's corner kick ricocheted in off Diego Souza, who knew little about it - before a second half strike from Élton sealed the win. Vasco and Palmeiras will soon be sick of the sight of one another; they meet in Série A at the weekend, before squaring off again in the second leg.

U20 World Cup Round-up
Brazil sealed their place in the quarter finals of the U20 World Cup, beating Saudi Arabia with some ease on Wednesday night. After an evenly-matched first half, the seleção went ahead through Henrique, who ran onto Willian José's delightful flick and finished with aplomb. Palmeiras leftback Gabriel Silva - whose presence in the side owes much to the injury sustained by Alex Sandro earlier in the tournament - then made it two, sweeping home following another Willian assist. The icing on the cake came in the dying minutes; Oscar showed great vision to find substitute Dudu, whose finish crept under Abdullah Alsdairy in the Saudi Arabia goal. Ney Franco's men will play Spain in the last eight.

Brasileirão Round-up
Santos finally played one of their million games in hand, hosting rivals Corinthians at the Vila Belmiro. The result? A stale goalless draw, about which I shall say no more.

Results. Recopa Sul-Americana; Independiente 2-1 Internacional. Copa Sul-Americana; Atlético-MG 1-2 Botafogo, Flamengo 1-0 Atlético-PR, Ceará 2-1 São Paulo, Vasco 2-0 Palmeiras. U20 World Cup; Brazil 3-0 Saudi Arabia. Série A; Santos 0-0 Corinthians.

(Photo credits; (1) Alexandre Lops, (2) Cleber Mendes.)

Inter Tame Jaguares; Minnows Boavista Reach Taça Guanabara Final

It's been another busy week in Brazilian football, with Copa do Brasil and continental games jostling for space with the usual state championship action. Internacional kick-started the defence of their Libertadores crown with a commanding victory over Mexican side Jaguares, a result that sent them to the top of Group 6. In Rio, meanwhile, Boavista, a small regional side, made it through to the final of the first stage of the Campeonato Carioca. With those stories and more, here's the SKP Friday round-up.

Internacional 4-0 Jaguares
Inter, despite being one of Brazil's most stable clubs, have undergone a difficult period since they romped to the 2010 Libertadores title. Their poor performance in the Club World Cup, coupled with the sale of a number of key players (Taison and Giuliano being the most obvious examples), had led to a sense of doom and gloom at the Beira-Rio. Manager Celso Roth - hardly universally adored to begin with - only just clung onto his job in the wake of the Abu Dhabi fiasco, and many fans feared that Argentine pair Pablo Guiñazú and Andrés D'Alessandro would depart the club.

Whether by luck or by judgement, however, the outlook one month on is much brighter for the Colorado. True, they have been far from impressive in the Campeonato Gaúcho thus far (admittedly without a host of first team players), but the signings of Zé Roberto (no, not the former Bayern Munich one), Fernando Cavenaghi, and, in particular, Mário Bolatti have really captured the imagination. All three started against Jaguares, as Inter sought to claim their first win in this year's tournament.

Inter orbit; Mário Bolatti jumps for joy after netting against Jaguares.

Bolatti, the former Porto and Fiorentina midfielder, enjoyed a fine début last week, scoring Inter's goal in the 1-1 draw with Emelec. He was even more influential on Wednesday night, bossing play from the centre of the park and netting a brace in the opening period. His first, a deflected volley, was trumped by the second; a crashing finish following a spot of head tennis in the Jaguares box. This hermano (Brazilian slang for Argentine/Spanish speaker) could well become the next to gain icon-status at the Beira-Rio.

Inter continued to dominate in the the second half, and extended their lead through Leandro Damião. The youngster, who seems to have leapfrogged Alecsandro in the Inter attacking pecking order, showed customary awareness to pounce after the ball came back off the post. The hosts cruised through the remainder of the game, until, with just seconds remaining, Oscar decided that the evening deserved to be rounded off in style. The Brazil U20 midfielder surged towards goal before rifling home a stunning low effort from thirty yards. As the final whistle blew, Roth sauntered contendedly back into the dressing room; the early signs suggest that his side could again go far in this competition.

Campeonato Carioca Round-up
Flamengo secured their place in the final of the Taça Guanabara, sneaking past Botafogo on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Ronaldo Angelim's early effort was cancelled out by Loco Abreu, who finished expertly after receiving a pass from fellow Argentine Egidio Arévalo. Goalkeeper Felipe was the penalty hero for Flamengo, saving from Éverton and Somália as the Rubro-Negro won the shoot-out.

If you're happy and you know it...; Thiago celebrates with the Boavista fans.

Spot-kicks were also needed in the other semi-final, as underdogs Boavista snuck past Fluminense at the Engenhão. The sides traded golaços in the opening period; Marquinho's free-kick put the Tricolor ahead before a rocket from Tony gave Boavista parity. Fred then appeared to have put Flu in control with a simple header, only for some sleepy defending to allow André Luís to bag a second for their opponents. Boavista stopper Thiago proved his worth in the shoot-out, saving brilliantly from Conca and Rodriguinho. It was a historic day for the minnows, whose (snappily-named) Estádio Eucy Resende de Mendonça holds just 6,000 fans, and whose main claim to fame before Saturday had been a doomed attempt to lure Italian striker Christian Vieri out of retirement.

Campeonato Paulista Round-up
Corinthians hosted Santos at the Pacaembu on Sunday, with fans and pros alike paying tribute to Ronaldo, who waved farewell to fans prior to kickoff. The Timão supporters unfurled a banner reading "R9 ETERNALLY IN OUR HEARTS," while the home players' shirts were emblazened with "FENÔMENO FOREVER." Confusingly, Corinthians also abandoned their regular squad numbers in honour of Ronaldo; every play wore a jersey featuring the number nine (so Liédson was No.90, Alessandro used No.29, etc). With the wind of sentiment in their sails, Corinthians ran out comfortable winners. Fábio Santos, a former Peixe player, put the hosts ahead with a delightful free-kick, and later added another from the penalty spot. Elano gave Santos hope with a powerful effort, but Liédson sealed the win with a deft chipped finish.

Liédson; Corinthians' new talisman?

São Paulo produced a scintillating attacking display on Saturday, putting four past hapless Bragantino at the Morumbi. Dagoberto set up goals for Miranda and Fernandinho, before the young guns took over in the second period; Lucas and Willian José both got on the scoresheet for the Tricolor. Palmeiras meanwhile... (sorry, I just fell asleep on my keyboard)... drew 0-0 with Mogi Morim.

Copa do Brasil Round-up
One thing that is certain to make any match (and especially one involving Palmeiras) more interesting is a medic who takes it upon himself to somersault repeatedly throughout the 90 minutes. Congratulations must go to Comercial-PI; firstly for taking their cup game with Palmeiras to a second leg (despite a 2-1 loss), but mainly for employing that lunatic. Avaí and Santa Cruz made it through to round two with resounding away wins over Vilhena-RO and Corinthians-RN respectively (in case you're wondering, the two letters after these names denote the states in which the clubs are located). Botafogo will have to come from behind in the return leg after losing 1-0 to River Plate-SE, but there were no such problems for resurgent Vasco who progressed with a 6-1 win over Comercial-MS.

Copa Libertadores Round-up
Fluminense seem determined to do things the hard way in this year's Libertadores; a goalless draw with Uruguayan side Nacional made it just two points from their opening two home games in the competition. With Fred out injured, Muricy Ramalho reshuffled his side side; lining up with three centrebacks and an array of midfielders behind lone striker Rafael Moura. The system provided defensive solidity (despite defender Digão's subsequent admission that he "couldn't describe the position in which [he] was playing") but left the Tricolor short of attacking threat. They now have it all to do, in what was always going to be a tricky group.

Where's Wallyson? At the top of the Libertadores scoring charts, that's where.

Despite taking the lead through Borges, Grêmio fell to a 2-1 loss against Junior Barranquilla. The Tricolor were guilty of some poor defending on the night, allowing Giovanni Hernández and Jhon Viáfara (remember him, Southampton and Portsmouth fans?!) to give the Colombians a narrow victory. Cruzeiro were far more ruthless, thrashing Guaraní 4-0 in Sete Lagoas. Wallyson bagged a brace for the Raposa, but it was Thiago Ribeiro who scored the pick of the goals, drilling home from the edge of the area.

Best of the Rest
That was actually Thiago's second golaço of the week; the first came in Cruzeiro's routine Campeonato Mineiro win over Ipatinga at the weekend. It's Atlético-MG that continue to lead the Minas Gerais championship, however; they maintained their fine attacking form to beat Guarani-MG 4-2. In Porto Alegre, meanwhile, Grêmio made it to the semi-finals of the first stage of the Gauchão with a 5-0 win over Ypiranga-RS. André Lima, who amusingly took it upon himself to come up with his own nickname ('immortal warrior'... egotistical much?), scored a brace for the Tricolor.

Selected results. Carioca; Flamengo 1-1 Botafogo (3-1 on penalties), Fluminense 2-2 Boavista (2-4 on penalties). Paulista; São Paulo 4-0 Bragantino, Corinthians 3-1 Santos, Mogi Morim 0-0 Palmeiras. Libertadores; Fluminense 0-0 Nacional, Internacional 4-0 Jaguares, Junior Barranquilla 2-1 Grêmio, Cruzeiro 4-0 Guaraní. Copa do Brasil; Comercial-PI 1-2 Palmeiras, River Plate-SE 1-0 Botafogo, Comercial-MS 1-6 Vasco.

(Photo credits; (1) EFE, (2) Ricardo Ramos, (3) Tom Dib, (4) EFE.)

Inter Set to Rebuild After Club World Cup Disappointment

Firstly, a word of apology to my readers. I was caught up in a whirlwind of university work this week, and so was unable to offer my thoughts on Internacional's shock Club World Cup loss to TP Mazembe. Sometimes, unfortunately, the real world crashes into my glorious Brazilian football utopia. Inter recovered some of their pride yesterday, with a convincing victory over Asian champions Seongnam, but will likely now face up to a transitional period ahead of the 2011 season.

Before this year's competition, there had never been a final of the Mundial without a South American representative. The Colorado travelled to the Middle East with the expectation of maintaining that record, and were hopeful of overcoming near-namesakes Internazionale to become the fourth Brazilian side to win the Cup in its current format. Having used the last few rounds of the Brasileirão to experiment with personnel and formation, there can be little doubt that coach Celso Roth was prioritising the competition, and players such as Alecsandro and Oscar declaring their excitement ahead of the trip. All of Inter's preparation, however, was to prove insufficient in their semi-final clash with the wonderfully-named Tout Puissant ('all-powerful') Mazembe, the African champions.

A frustrated Celso Roth offers advice to Rafael Sobis.

Roth set his side up to attack; Tinga and D'Alessandro were to provide support for strikers Alecsandro and Rafael Sobis, whilst full-backs Kléber and Nei also had a largely attacking remit. Inter duly dominated the first half, and were only denied by a stunning performance from Mazembe goalkeeper Muteba Kidiaba. The veteran stopper pulled off a string of fine saves, the best of which thwarted Rafael Sobis, who looked destined to score from close range. The second period brought more frustration for Inter; they went behind to Mulota Kabangu's stunning volley, and struggled to create clear-cut chances.. The Porto Alegre side were then dealt a knockout blow in the 85th minute, when dynamic winger Dioko Kaluyituka cut inside his marker and fired past Renan. The final whistle confirmed a landmark success for African football, and a bitter disappointment for Inter.

The Colorado players were understandably distraught; Rafael Sobis, for instance, admitted on his Twitter account that he didn't sleep the following night, and broke down into tears on a couple of occassions. The Brazilian media, meanwhile was busy pressing the panic button; speculating that Roth and a host of first-team players (Alecsandro, Guiñazú, D'Alessandro) could leave the Beira-Rio.

Roth and Alecsandro will hope to have secured their short-term futures in the victory over Seongnam. The burly striker, who has at times looked out of place among Inter's technically-gifted squad, netted two goals and set up the opener for Tinga. He will want to remain ahead of young forward Leandro Damião in the striking pecking order, and must hope that the club's reported interest in forwards Luís Fabiano (Sevilla), Zé Roberto (Vasco), and Everton (Tigres) fails to materialise. Roth, meanwhile, despite rumours that he could be replaced by Atlético-MG boss Dorival Júnior, will be encouraged by the (relative) patience that the Porto Alegre club tend to have with their coaches.

There may be, however, some truth surrounding the rumours about Guiñazú and D'Alessandro, two Argentines who have become firm favourites at the Beira-Rio. Guiñazú has been linked with São Paulo, who have long been admirers of the defensive midfielder. A renewed effort on their part to prize the defensive midfielder away from the Colorado looks likely. D'Alessandro, meanwhile, has suggested that he may be open to a return to his home country should River Plate come in for him. The departure of this pair would undoubtedly leave a significant hole in Inter's midfield engine room.

Luckily for Inter's fans, though, the club remains in a strong position to cope with such uncertainty. Youngsters like Giuliano, Damião, and Oscar are beginning to stamp their mark on the first team, and will be aided by the experience of Sobis, Tinga, and captain Bolívar. Some rebuilding of the first team may well be necessary ahead of the 2011 campaign, then, but we shouldn't read too much into the upset at the hands of Mazembe. Inter will remain a force in next season's Libertadores, and will also be confident of mounting a (recently all-too-infrequent) Série A challenge.

(Photo credit; VIPCOMM.)

Inter Late Show Stuns Corinthians; Santos End Cruzeiro Run

There were some strange results in this weekend's Série A games; form teams Cruzeiro and São Paulo both suffered heavy defeats, while recent strugglers Avaí somehow pulled a five-goal win out of the hat. Elsewhere, Fluminense again took pole position after Inter beat Corinthians...

Internacional 3-2 Corinthians
Three straight wins had shot Adílson Batista's Corinthians side to the top of the Série A with a game in hand, but Inter managed to (temporarily at least) derail their title charge in a rip-roaring game at the Beira-Rio. Corinthians were still without a number of first team players, among them Chicão, Ralf, Dentinho, and Ronaldo, while Inter made three changes from the side that went down to Atlético-PR; Renan, Nei, and Sorondo replaced Pato Abbondanzieri, Bolívar, and Wilson Mathías.

In a tense opening period, it was the home side who got their noses in front. Andrés D'Alessandro poked a clever through ball into the path of Tinga, who coolly slotted past Júlio César to open the scoring. Corinthians twice went close to equalising before the interval, but Jorge Henrique and Bruno César were denied by Renan and the crossbar respectively. The start of the second half brought far more chances; some brave 'keeping from Renan denied Iarley, before D'Alessandro tested Júlio César at the other end.

Corinthians' Jorge Henrique competes with Pablo Guiñazú of Inter.

With 65 minutes on the clock, the Timão found an equaliser. Jucilei released Jorge Henrique on the left, and the little forward curled an impeccable shot into the far corner of the net. Within minutes, it ought to have been two, but Bruno César could only find the woodwork again with the goal at his mercy. Instead, it was Inter who netted their second; D'Alessandro, a torment to Corinthians throughout, crossed for substitute Alecsandro to bundle home at the far post.

Things were all set up for an exciting finish, but few could have predicted the events that would unfold. Corinthians defender Paulo André thought he'd scored with a powerful header, only to see his effort brilliantly tipped over by Nei. Unfortunatly for Inter, Nei is an outfield player, and was thus promptly sent off. Bruno César made no mistake from the spot, blasting the ball down the centre. The visitors surely thought they'd rescued a point, but it was not to be. Paulo André gave away a free-kick just outside the box (and received his second yellow for the incident), which Inter dead-ball specialist Andrezinho stepped up to take. His effort flicked off the wall and off the post before settling in the back of the net, sending a packed Beira-Rio into raptures.

Gameweek 25 Round-up
Santos put an abrupt end to Cruzeiro's run of wins, emphatically beating the Belo Horizonte club 4-1 at the Arena Barueri. After a goalless first half, Marcel's scuffed strike put the Peixe ahead, before Edu Dracena headed home a second from Marquinhos' free-kick. Thiago Ribeiro smashed in at the near post to reduce the arrears, but Alex Sandro's wonder goal quickly extinguished any hope of a comeback; the left-back ran from his own half before sensationally lobbing Fábio in the Raposa goal. Que golaço! Neymar added a fine individual goal of his own in injury time, turning his marker inside out before slotting home. In Campinas, Baiano scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot, giving Guarani victory over Vasco.

Atlético Goianiense picked up a great result against fellow strugglers Grêmio Prudente, winning 3-0 at the Serra Dourada. Agenor bundled home the first from a cross, before Thiago Feltri volleyed home a smart second. Marcão completed the scoring, powerfully heading past Giovanni in the Abelha goal. Goiás did their survival hopes the world of good, too, embarrassing the mighty São Paulo at the Morumbi. The Esmeraldino took the lead when Carlos Alberto poked home, before taking control of the game. Rafael Moura added a second after good work by Felipe, and then himself rounded off the scoring, rocketing home from a tight angle.

Goiás players celebrate their third at the Morumbi.

Luiz Felipe Scolari finally seems to be moulding his Palmeiras charges into a decent side; the Verdão beat Flamengo convincingly at the Engenhão on Saturday. A first half Kléber brace (the first a penalty, the second a low drive) put Palmeiras in the driving seat, before Petkovic brought Fla back into contention from the spot. A late Lincoln goal, however, sealed the points for the São Paulo side. Sunday's game at the same stadium (which could host up to 120 games within the next year) saw Atlético Paranaense hold Botafogo to a 1-1 draw. Edno's snapshot put O Glorioso ahead, but a late individual goal by Guerrón ensured the points were shared.

Fluminense went back to the top of the standings, thanks to a tight away win over Vitória. The Tricolor went ahead from the penalty spot (Darío Conca converting after Rodriguinho was felled in the area) before being pegged back when Rafael's fumble allowed Henrique to scramble home. Flu would win it, however, thanks to the same attacking combination; this time Rodriguinho getting on the scoresheet following a smart Conca pass. Dorival Júnior's first game in charge of Atlético Mineiro ended in defeat, as the Galo went down 2-1 to Grêmio. Jonas pounced on a rebound to put the Tricolor Gaúcho into a third minute lead, before Gabriel bustled into the area to clip home a second. Diego Tardelli's header would prove no more than a consolation for Atlético.

Avaí finally brought their horrid run of form to an end, beating Ceará for their first win since the 15th of August. They did so in some style, too, with five unanswered goals at the Ressacada. Rudnei poked the Florianópolis side ahead with their first attack of the game, before Davi converted a penalty to double the advantage. Jéferson then decided to have his own personal goal of the week contest, smashing in two glorious drives, one with each foot. Davi rounded off an impressive performance in the second half with a delicate curling effort.

Results; São Paulo 0-3 Goiás, Atlético-GO 3-0 Grêmio Prudente, Santos 4-1 Cruzeiro, Guarani 1-0 Vasco, Flamengo 1-3 Palmeiras, Botafogo 1-1 Atlético-PR, Vitória 1-2 Fluminense, Internacional 3-2 Corinthians, Avaí 5-0 Ceará, Atlético-MG 1-2 Grêmio.

(Photo credits; (1) Ricardo Rimoli, (2) Miguel Schincaroil.)

Past Masters and Future Stars; Internacional's Recipe for Stability and Success

My latest piece for In Bed With Maradona, on Inter's Libertadores victory, can be found here.

Inter Crowned Champions of South America

With a 2-1 lead from the first leg, Internacional were strong favourites to lift the Copa Libertadores for the second time in five years. Duly enough, in an exciting game at the Beira-Rio, the Colorado ran out 3-2 winners over Mexican side Chivas, sparking wild celebrations in Porto Alegre.

Joy for Inter captain Bolívar as he lifts the Libertadores trophy.

Internacional 3-2 Chivas (5-3 on aggregate)
Inter coach Celso Roth made two changes from last week's first leg; one tactical, one forced upon him. Alecsandro, still feeling the effects of a pulled muscle, was not fit enough to start, and young star Giuliano also dropped to the bench. Into the line-up came two veterans of the club's 2006 Libertadores victory; midfield dynamo Tinga and energetic forward Rafael Sobis. Both would prove decisive once again as Inter battled to victory.

The home side, understandably perhaps, started nervously; gone was the slick passing and conviction of the first leg, replaced by long balls and midfield scrapping. Full-backs Nei and Kléber, usually so influential in the attacking third, were pinned back by Chivas, as the Mexican side enjoyed the better start. Inter gradually worked their way into the tie, thanks in large part to the workrate and ferocity of Tinga, but created little in an attritional opening period. Just as the half was petering out, however, Chivas landed a sucker punch on their Brazilian opponents. A long ball was nodded down to Marco Fabián, the away side's standout performer on the night, who unleashed an acrobatic volley before Índio could put in a challange. It was a truly stunning finish, one which left Inter goalkeeper Renan in awe rooted to the spot. Just as in the first leg, Inter would have to react after the interval.

And react they certainly did. Roth moved Taison to the right wing, where his pace immediately caused problems for Chivas. The reshuffle also freed Kléber to bomb forward from left-back, the result of which was almost instantaneous. Released into space by Tinga, Kléber bent in a tempting low cross which was poked home gleefully by Rafael Sobis. The Beira-Rio went wild, yet the striker was oddly left by his teammates to celebrate alone; a strangely awkward moment.

Leandro Damião celebrates his decisive goal for Inter.

This was an evening during which Roth had the midas touch; Inter's win would be secured thanks to two second half substitutes. With 15 minutes left to play, and with Chivas looking increasingly dangerous, the home side netted a second on the counter-attack. Young striker Leandro Damião skipped clear of Héctor Reynoso and bore down on Chivas 'keeper Luís Michel. The Mexican got a hand to Damião's shot, but could not prevent it from sneaking in at the near post. The third would be added, almost inevitably, by Giuliano; the Colorado's lucky charm in this season's competition. As the game ticked into injury time, the midfielder burst between two tired challenges, before lifting a delightful chip over Michel and into the net.

Chivas, down to 10 men following Omar Arellano's dismissal, nicked a consolation in the dying seconds through Patricio Araujo, but it was a case of too little, too late. The final whistle sounded, and the Inter players celebrated wildly. The party atmosphere was interrupted briefly as a scuffle broke out among the players (classic South American football!), but order was soon restored. All that remained was for Inter captain Bolívar (a nickname that fittingly echoes the name of Símon Bolívar, one of the 'liberators' after which the competition is named) to receive the taça from Pelé (decked out in a dapper red suit) and raise it aloft. Congratulations to Internacional, bicampeão da América!!!

(Photo credits; (1) Antonio Lacerda/Efe, (2) Silvia Izquierdo/AP.)

Win in Mexico Puts Inter in Libertadores Driving Seat

Internacional met Chivas in the first leg of their Copa Libertadores final last night, seeking to replicate the success of their 2006 win in the tournament. A 2-1 win on the night puts the Porto Alegre side in pole position to do just that in next week's return leg.

Chivas 1-2 Internacional
With midfield dynamo Tinga suspended after his semi-final expulsion, Celso Roth handed a start to Giuliano, the team's lucky charm in the competition so far. Having scored in both the quarter and semi-finals, the youngster would again prove decisive in Guadalajara, netting the goal that dragged Inter back on level terms. The Colorado, as ever, were set up to attack; with full-backs Kléber and Nei spending far more time in the opposition half than in their own.

Inter youngster Giuliano celebrates another Libertadores goal.

It was an approach which saw Inter dominate the early exchanges. Adapting swiftly to the artificial turf in the new Estádio Omnilife (!), the away side, inspired by the superb Andrés D'Alessandro, racked up over 70% of possession in the opening ten minutes, leaving Chivas chasing shadows. Chances however, were few and far between; Alecsandro was often isolated up front before being forced off with a thigh injury. As the interval loomed, it looked like both sides would settle for going into the break on level terms, but a sucker punch saw Chivas score with the last touch of the half. Adolfo Bautista (bizarrely wearing a Michael Jackson-esque single white glove), ran onto a searching cross before heading magnificently over Renan in the Inter goal.

It was Chivas who started the second half in better shape; Inter seemingly rattled by their late concession. It took some sturdy defending from Índio and Bolívar (as well as the imposing physical presence of Sandro in midfield) to stop the Mexican side doubling their advantage. The Colorado weathered the storm, however, and drew level when the Giuliano drifted unmarked into the box to head home Kléber's pinpoint cross. Just three minutes later, Inter were ahead. D'Alessandro's cross was intelligently headed back into the dangerzone by substitute Rafael Sobis, where a diving Bolívar glanced past Chivas 'keeper Michel. The players sprinted over to celebrate with Celso Roth and the substitutes, knowing that the goal puts them in the driving seat in this final. The tie would finish 2-1, leaving Chivas a mountain to climb in the South of Brazil.

(Photo credit; EFE.)

Inter Scrape Past São Paulo to Reach Libertadores Final

Perhaps Brazil's most successful club in recent continental campaigns, Internacional yesterday booked their place in the final of the Copa Libertadores, South American football's premier competition. Despite losing the second-leg of their semi-final with São Paulo, Inter progressed on away goals to set up a meeting with Mexican side Chivas. The win also ensures the Colorado a place in the next Club World Cup, a tournament Chivas are ineligible for.

São Paulo 2-1 Internacional (2-2 on aggregate; Inter win on away goals)
In a pulsating game at the Morumbi, it was Inter who did just enough to guarantee their progress in the competition, thanks to Alecsandro's second half effort. São Paulo were almost unrecognisable from the first leg; their negative tactics were replaced by a more daring style, aided by a flexible trio of front men. Ricardo Oliveira maintained his place in the starting XI after his impressive (re)début at the weekend, and lined up alongside the established strike duo of Fernandão and Dagoberto. Inter, though, are rarely shrinking violets in attack; any worry that the Porto Alegre side would be set up to defend were dispelled with a line-up including both Tinga and Andrés D'Alessandro behind frontmen Taison and Alecsandro.

Playmakers of the world, unite!

The first period saw the sides trade blows; Rogério Ceni was called into action to thwart both Alecsandro and Tinga, while the Tricolor themselves threatened from dead balls and shots from distance. The opener, though, would come via a simple goalkeeping error. Hernanes' free-kick from the right was spilled by Inter stopper Renan (given the nod recently over the even more erratic Pato Abbondanzieri), allowing Alex Silva to head home from a tight angle. The goal was exactly what the game needed, and set up an intriguing second half.

Soon after the break, the Colorado equalised. Rogério Ceni could only watch in disbelief as D'Alessandro's free-kick was diverted into the bottom corner (purposefully?...maybe if we're being generous) by Alecsandro. Cue wild celebrations from the crazed puppy wily Argentine playmaker. The goal left São Paulo with a mountain to climb, but they were offered hope by the swiftness of their reply; just two minutes after conceding, their lead on the night was restored. Cléber Santana's volleyed attempt reached Ricardo Oliveira, who found himself onside thanks to a sleepy Colorado offside trap. The former Milan forward had ample time to control the ball and drill low past Renan.

Midfield wizard; Hernanes (centre) competes with Taison and Tinga.

The home side, buoyed by the introduction of Marlos, frantically sought a third, and tested Renan from distance on a number of occasions. Their cause was helped by the expulsion of Tinga, harshly given a second yellow for a foul on Júnior César. The winning goal, however, would evade the Tricolor. As the Inter players celebrated on the pitch, the home fans trudged out of the stadium, worried perhaps about what the near future might bring; Hernanes, their star player, looks set to seal a transfer to Europe this week, and it would surprise few if coach Ricardo Gomes' head rolled after this defeat.

Copa Sul-Americana Round-up
You would hardly know it from the coverage in today's papers, but last night also saw the first legs of two all-Brazilian Copa Sul-americana ties. Atlético Mineiro travelled to São Paulo state to face Grêmio Prudente, and claimed a creditable goalless draw at the Prudentão. Goiás hosted Grêmio at the Serra Dourada, and came from behind to snatch a draw. Hugo put the Tricolor ahead following some fancy build-up from Douglas and Adílson, but Rafael Moura's late penalty for the Esmeraldino leaves the tie evenly balance ahead of the second leg.

(Photo credits; (1) Eduardo Viana, (2) Daniel Marenco/Folhapress.)

Advantage Santos in Cup Final; Inter Gain Narrow Libertadores Lead

Wednesday night was a huge one in Brazilian football, with the first legs of both the Copa do Brasil final and the all-Brazilian Copa Libertadores semi-final. A pity, then, that the games were on at exactly the same time; you can't beat some sound South American logic.

Santos 2-0 Vitória (Copa do Brasil)
Santos continued their superb home record in the cup by claiming a deserved 2-0 win over Vitória at the Vila Belmiro. The Peixe's post World-Cup form has been ropey, but the potential reward of a Libertadores spot for next season seemed to spark a number of their players into life; they could easily have won this game by five or six. Dorival Júnior lined up with all four of the attackers who received recent call-ups to the seleção; Paulo Henrique Ganso prompting from deep behind a flexible front three of Neymar, Robinho, and André. Vitória, on the other hand, were set up to counter attack, with the pacy Elkeson supporting Schwenk in attack.

The home side nearly took the lead within the first ten minutes, but Ganso's precise free-kick came back off the post with the 'keeper beaten. The opener, though, was not long in coming. Robinho found Pará down the right, and the full-back's low cross was chested (yes, chested) home by Neymar at the far post. It was the young forward's eleventh goal of the competition. Further chances were scarce before the break; the best fell to André, who ballooned over with the net beckoning.

Neymar; chested finishes and chipped penalty catastrophes all in a day's work.

The second period saw Santos dominate yet further, and create a flood of chances to extend their lead. Paulo Henrique and Robinho were both guilty of some wasteful finishing, but the biggest culprit was Neymar. Having won a spot-kick with a fabulous bit of trickery, the youngster attempted a 'Loco' Abreu-style cavadinha - a delicate chip over the diving goalkeeper. Unfortunately, however, Vitória stopper Lee stood rooted on the line and gratefully plucked the ball out of the air. Neymar looked understandably crestfallen.

Dorival Júnior threw on Marquinhos and Zé Eduardo (who look like a father and son combo) in search of a second goal, a move which paid off almost instantly. Zé Eduardo was felled outside the box, and Marquinhos bent a stunning free-kick in off the post. It was no more than Santos deserved, and puts the Peixe in the driving seat ahead of the second leg next week. Vitória, though, will be a different prospect at the Barradão.

Internacional 1-0 São Paulo (Copa Libertadores)
São Paulo travelled to Porto Alegre off the back of some truly horrible league form, and will surely be happy to tackle the home leg with only a one goal deficit. They were outplayed by Inter for long periods at the Beira-Rio, and frequently needed Rogério Ceni to rescue them.

Inter's Giuliano wheels away after his winning goal.

In a goalless first half, Inter who showed the greater attacking intent, but were largely stifled by the Tricolor's defensive tactics. Ricardo Gomes evidently set his side up to frustrate the home side; the attacking instincts of players like Marlos and Hernanes were reigned in, leaving Fernandão lacking in support up front. The approach, despite its negativity, seemed to be working. The Colorado were reduced to just a handful of half-chances; Andrés D'Alessandro went close with a free-kick, and Taison's header brought a flying save from Rogério.

It appeared that the second period would provide more frustration for Inter; Rogério Ceni denied both Andrezinho and Kléber within the first five minutes of the half. Inter's pressure finally paid off, however, with twenty minutes to play. Substitute Giuliano drifted in from the right and (fortuitously) found D'Alessandro, who lifted a delicate chip towards Taison. The ball ricocheted back into the path of Giuliano, who spun brilliantly to arrow a shot into the bottom corner. Inter, spurred on by the superb D'Alessandro, sought a second, but could not find one. The tie remains evenly balanced ahead of next week's return leg at the Morumbi.

(Photo credits; (1) Eduardo Viana, (2) EFE.)

Veterans Ensure Corinthians Stay Top; Win Takes Ceará Second

In the penultimate set of games before the Brasileirão's World Cup sabbatical, Corinthians maintained their position at the head of the table. They are closely followed by Ceará and Fluminense, both of whom enjoyed home victories.

Corinthians 2-0 Internacional
With Jorge Henrique joining Ronaldo on the Corinthians injury list, Iarley made a rare start for the home side at the Pacaembu. Mano Menezes again packed the midfield, playing both Danilo and Bruno César alongside the more defensively minded Elias and Ralf. It was Inter who enjoyed the better start, however, testing Felipe with a series of long range efforts. The Timão goalkeeper had to be at his best to claw away Andrezinho's curling shot.

With 38 minutes gone, Corinthians were awarded a controversial penalty. Danilo went down under pressure from Gonzalo Sorondo, but seemed to be returning to his feet after managing to get a pass away. Sorondo was nonplussed, and rightly so. Roberto Carlos stepped up and hit a low spot-kick which crept into the corner after Lauro appeared to have stopped it.

The old ones are the best; Roberto Carlos rolls back the years to score for Corinthians.

It was another of Corinthians' ageing tios who made it 2-0 after the break. Iarley received Elias' pinpoint ball in the area, and turned smartly to finish into the roof of the net. The scoreline rather flattered the home side, and it was Inter who had the best chances in the remainder of the match. There were to be no more goals, however, as Felipe continued to frustrate the Colorado with a string of fine saves.

Ceará 2-0 Avaí
Newly-promoted Ceará have been in brilliant form since the start of Série A, picking up impressive wins against Cruzeiro, Fluminense and Vitória. They left it late against Avaí at the Castelão, but two goals in the last 15 minutes ensured another win for Vozão. Misael, one of the side's stand-out performers, broke the deadlock in style, running onto a long ball, dribbling easily past his marker, and slotting low into the corner.

It was another breakaway goal that secured the three points for the team from Fortaleza. Avaí's perilously high defensive line was exposed when centre-back Emerson missed his header, leaving Tony with a clear run on goal. The former Botafogo man drew the 'keeper before unselfishly squaring for the onrushing Lopes, who couldn't miss. Ceará up to the dizzy heights of second place.

Gameweek 6 Round-up
Fluminense continued their impressive form with a 2-1 win over Vitória at the Maracanã. Fred bagged the Tricolor's first, profitting from a kind rebound after Marquinho's shot was saved. The away team looked to have earnt a point when Jonas headed in an 85th minute equaliser, but they were denied thanks to Alan's late goal. Flamengo also recorded a tight victory, beating Palmeiras 1-0 at the Pacaembu. It was Vágner Love who came back to haunt his former employers, cutting in from the left and drilling home.

Comeback kings Atlético-PR salute their fans at the Arena da Baixada.

Botafogo threw away a two-goal advantage to lose 3-2 to Atlético Paranaense at the Baixada. Joel Santana's men dominated the first half and took the lead through Herrera, who spun past his defender to finish via the legs of 'keeper Neto. The impressive Edno brought down a high ball and played in Lúcio Flávio, who drilled in at the near post to double Botafogo's lead. The game looked to be over, but the Furacão had other ideas. Veteran Paulo Baier pulled one back before half time, before equalising with a deft free-kick in the second period. The winner came from Alex Mineiro, whose shot was deflected just beyond the reach of the despairing Jefferson. Botafogo now without a win in three games after a promising start.

Atlético-GO remained rooted to the bottom of the table after Tadeu's glorious free-kick condemned them to a 1-0 loss against Grêmio Prudente. Improving Goiás won their second game on the bounce, shocking title hopefuls São Paulo at the Serra Dourada. It was São Paulo who took the lead thanks to an unstoppable Marcelinho Paraíba free-kick, but the Esmeraldino reacted with goals from Bernado (from the penalty spot) and Jonílson. Vasco also remain in the relegation zone, after a home loss to Guarani. In a poor game, it was a goal from Roger (the current artilheiro of the Campeonato) that separated the teams.

Vanderlei Luxemburgo will be disappointed to find his Atlético Mineiro side hovering around the foot of the table after they went down to a third consecutive defeat; losing 2-1 to Grêmio at the Olímpico. The Tricolor have specialised recently in goals from dead-balls, and last night it was Hugo who twice benefitted from Fábio Rochemback's excellent delivery to head home. Ricardinho netted the Galo's only goal with a deflected shot from outside the area. In Belo Horizonte, Cruzeiro were held to a 0-0 draw by Santos, a result that sees the sides remain in 6th and 5th spots consecutively.

(Photo credits; (1) Junior Lago, (2) Felipe Gabriel.)

Stunning Comeback Gives Vasco First Win; Fluminense Beat Flamengo in Clássico

There was a full midweek programme in Série A, with important wins coming for two Rio clubs who have endured a tough start to the campaign.

Vasco da Gama 3-2 Internacional
An inspired second-half comeback saw Vasco get their first win the Campeonato Brasileiro, to the relief of fans and new boss Celso Roth alike. Visiting Inter had established a 2-0 lead at the break, thanks to a quickfire brace from Andrezinho. The first came on 38 minutes, a deflected effort after the midfielder had cut in from the right. Barely two minutes later, the left-hand side of the Vasco defence lapsed for a second time, allowing Andrezinho far too much space to collect Alecsandro's pass and clip a delicate finish over Fernando Prass.

Rocket man; Élton celebrates his opening goal for Vasco.

The São Januário club's revival in the second period was as impressive as it was unexpected. They dragged themselves back into contention thanks to a fabulous goal from Élton, who turned on the edge of the box and lashed an unstoppable volley over Pato Abbondanzieri. Belief appeared to pulse through the Vasco players, but they were made to wait until the final fifteen minutes until their pressure paid off. The equaliser came with a generous dollop of luck; the Gigante da Colina were awarded a penalty when Ernani tumbled under pressure from Inter defender Nei. The replay showed it to be a shameless dive, but Philippe Coutinho didn't care, sending the 'keeper the wrong way with his spot-kick.

With six minutes to go, Vasco got their winner. The ball broke to burly midfielder Nilton, who crashed a drive into the top corner from the edge of the area. The home players celebrated wildly, and for good reason; every point will be vital in what's shaping up to be a long battle against relegation. If Celso Roth can get more performances like this one from his men, especially at home, it will go a long way to securing their safety.

Fluminense 2-1 Flamengo
Muricy Ramalho's Fluminense earnt a deserved win over city rivals Flamengo in Wednesday's game at the Maracanã. It had been over two years since the Laranjeiras club had been victorious in a Fla-Flu, but this win suggests that the trajectories of the two clubs may finally be changing. Flamengo look unlikely to maintain the level of performance which saw them win last season's Série A title, especially since it appears that Vágner Love will follow Adriano out of the club. Flu, on the other hand, could be on the up; with a talented manager and hopes of new signings such as Deco.

Adriano leaves Flamengo's Gávea HQ after confirming his exit from the club. Fans were shell-shocked, firstly to hear the bad news, but also to see the striker at the training complex at all.

The Tricolor took the lead after 10 minutes when Rodriguinho netted his first for the club. The credit, though, must go to playmaker Dário Conca. Surging from deep, the Argentine scooped a sumptious pass for his teammate, who dispatched a first-time finish past Bruno in the Flamengo goal. It would prove the only goal of a balanced first half. After the break, Fluminense wasted little time in increasing their lead, and again it was Conca who did the damage. Marquinho controlled a cross from the right, and unselfishly teed up the No. 11, who smashed a shot into the top corner.

Flamengo were suffering from a real lack of cutting-edge in attack, and it took a goal from an unlikely source to drag them back into the game. Goalkeeper Bruno ventured upfield to take a free-kick, which he bent gloriously over the wall and into the net. It was too little, too late, however, and the three points saw Fluminense leapfrog Fla in the Série A standings.

Gameweek 4 Round-up
Corinthians remain in top spot despite only managing a draw against Grêmio Prudente. Wanderley volleyed the home side into the lead, but William equalised after a Matías Defederico free-kick had caused havok in the Prudente defence. Diego's shot from a free-kick looked to have won it for the Abelha, but a late own goal by Dênis ensured that the points were shared. In Belo Horizonte, Botafogo's good run was ended by Cruzeiro; Thiago Ribeiro netted the only goal in a 1-0 victory for the Raposa.

Santos were not at their best against Guarani, and needed two late goals to secure a 3-1 win. A Baiano free-kick cancelled out Neymar's opener; a mazy run culminating in a scuffed finish which snuck in at the near post. Marcel met Léo's cross with a firm header to put Santos back into the lead, before André's late strike guaranteed maximum points.

São Paulo continued their winning run with a hard-fought 1-0 win over local rivals Palmeiras. The veteran goalkeepers Rogério Ceni and Marcos had busy first halves - São Paulo in particular showed plenty of attacking intent - but the sides went in goalless at the interval. The winner came early in the second half, when the powerful Fernandinho wriggled free on the left and crossed low for Fernandão to poke home. A little man/big man combination in name only; more like big man/bigger man in terms of physique. Palmeiras had a golden opportunity to level matters late on, but Ewerton's penalty was kept out by Rogério.

Fernandinho skips away from two Palmeiras defenders to set up São Paulo's winner.

Atlético Mineiro's toppsy-turvy start to the Brasileirão continued as they lost 4-3 away to Vitória. Schwenk (still love that name) gave Vitória the lead, but the Galo levelled in style; Muriqui sprinted onto Ricardinho's perfect pass and volleyed over the 'keeper with his first touch. Scwenk bagged with his second with a header, before Ricardinho's free-kick restored parity again. Some amusing goalkeeping from Marcelo gifted Vitória their third. The Atlético man chested down a back-pass but was robbed by Schwenk who completed his hat-trick. Schwenksational. (I'm so, so sorry.) Diego Tardelli headed in the visitors' third equaliser, but the game was finally settled by Evandro, who recently arrived at Vitória from none other than...you guessed it, Atlético Mineiro. A fitting end to an amazing game.

In Porto-Alegre, Grêmio enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 win over Avaí. In-form striker Jonas netted a first-half brace; the first a deflected effort from a free-kick, the second a simple finish after he'd rounded the 'keeper. Fábio Rochemback scored the third in the final minute. At the Baixada, Atlético-PR took the lead agaisnt Atlético-GO through a Paulo Baier free-kick, and scored a second through Wagner Diniz, who finished emphatically after a slalom run. Elias pulled one back for the visitors, but the Furacão hung on to win. In the round's only goalless affair, Ceará held Goiás at the Serra Dourada.

(Photo credits; (1) Paulo Sergio, (2) Cleber Mendes, (3) Tom Dib.)

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.)