Cruzeiro break the title race open.
Corinthians have finally been halted, losing 1-0, that too at home, to a resurgent Cruzeiro, led by star striker Wallyson. With his fourth goal in three games, Wallyson ensured Corinthians have been stopped in their tracks, and surrender their unbeaten league record. After going eight games without scoring he has now notched four times with three game winners.
Although Tite's side still lead the table comfortably, the gap is a more manageable six as opposed to a daunting eight. And with Sao Paulo contriving to tie fourth from bottom At Go on Saturday, Corinthians could have ended the week just four points ahead of their Sao Paolo rivals. Despite the loss they lead the table with 28 points from 11 games with a healthy difference of +14.
Nine games were played over last Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. The remaining catchup game sees Gremio take on Santos this Wednesday to round out Week 11.
Plenty of action, lots of close games, Week 11 was typical Brazilian Serie A fare with a mix of spectacular and ridiculous, sublime and pedestrian.
First up, on Thursday last week, the early game saw Avai host Internacional. Avai were on a four game unbeaten streak that had seen them collect three draws and their first win, in week 10. Internacional were in typical yo-yo mode, having lost three on the bounce after having won three games before that. Nine games had fetched a symmetrical three wins, three draws and three losses as Internacional threatened to break into the top four but always fell away when in sight. Avai just wanted to get out of the drop zone and put some distance between themselves and the bottom placed Atl Para.
However, Inter got things right and the steadied their ship in this game. After William converted a penalty for Avai, his second in two games, Inter stormed back to win 3-1 - Andrezinho, occasional national team striker Leandro Damiao and Andres D'Alessandro all scoring in the second half for Falcao's men. This was Inter's fifth away win of the campaign and the fourth time they had scored three or more goals in a match. I guess the rule of three applies to Inter, who could now reel off another run of wins.
Inter move up to sixth place while Avai remain 19th. Damaio has now scored four goals while D'Alessandro notched his third strike of the campaign.
Saturday's games saw Sao Paulo being held at home to a 2-2 draw by 17th placed At Go. After taking the lead twice through Rhodolfo and waitforit, Rivaldo (yes the same one), Sao Paulo surrendered the three points to goals by Bida and At Go's leading marksman Anselmo who scored his fourth goal of the campaign.
Sao Paulo remain second with 22 points from 11 games while At Go remain in the drop zone with nine points.
Thereafter, on Saturday, America Mineiro and Figueriense played out a goalless draw, notable only for the dire defending of the home side and the first half dismissal of Wilson Pittoni for two yellow cards. America rise to 18th with the point (edging Avai on goal difference) with seven points while Figuueirense drop to ninth. After a heady start, Jorginho's team are now winless in four games.
Bottom side At Para, showed some glimpses of past form, with a strong 2-1 win at home over Rio side Botafogo. Santiago Damian Garcia scored twice early for the home side as Bota could only muster a late consolation from Alex. Marcelo Mattos also got sent off in injury time for the Fire. Garcia could provide Para the impetus they need to push back up the table. Having transferred from Nacional, in his native Uruguay, just a month ago, he should add to to his brace here with the kind of form that saw him score 23 times in 28 games for Nacional in 2010-11. Remember the name, he is just 21. With their first win, Para remain bottom but close the gap on Avai and America. Botafogo drop to eighth and are now winless in four.
Finally, the late game on Saturday saw Flamengo remain the only unbeaten side with a draw, what else, at home to Ceara. Felipe Azevedo scored the equalizer for the northern side to cancel out Renato Abreu's opener. Flamengo have now drawn six of their 11 games and stay third. Ceara rise to 11th and will count this an encouraging result, away from home. Azevedo has now scored twice in consecutive games.
Sunday had four more games.
After Cruzeiro beat Corinthians in the early game, Fluminense beat Palmeiras as all the leading Sao Paolo sides dropped points. Marquinho scored a late winner for Fluminense who are seeking to repeat as title winners but remain stuck in midtable. After having lost successive games, Flu are now back in 10th spot while after the loss, Palmeiras drop to fifth, the first time they are out of the top four. Suddenly, things don't look so rosy for Palmeiras. Strikers Luan and Kleber have both not found the net in successive games, losses to Rio giants Flamengo 2009 winners and Fluminense 2010 winners, respectively. They need Chilean playmaker Jorge Valdivia, who played his first game of the season, to start working his magic.
Later on Sunday, Bahia and Coritiba played out a goalless draw that sees Bahia drop to 16th, one above the drop zone, while Coritiba drop to 12th spot. Both teams saw a player sent off for two yellow cards, with the home side striker Jobson's ejection in the 87th minute cancelling out the visitor's loss of Leandro Donizete in the 68th minute.
The final game of the weekend witnessed a strong away win for Vasco Da Gama, who beat Atletico Mineiro on their travels. Diego Souza scored twice for the visiting team from Rio, either side of a Magno Alves striker for Mineiro. Souza's winner came in the 90th minute just as the home side lost Leonardo Silva to a second yellow card.
All in all, an exciting round of games with plenty of upsets and movement.
The big guns all dropped points and among the sharpshooters in the league, only Wallyson found the net for Cruzeiro, with a goal celebrated up and down the country. Corinthians are mortal, after all.
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The rounds results were Cruzeiro's win, At Para's win, their first of the campaign and At Go surprisingly holding Sao Paulo to a loss.
Cruzeiro's Walter Montillo still leads all scorers with six goals.
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Of the top five clubs, only Vasco won.
Only one club remains unbeaten, Ronaldinho's Flamengo.
All clubs have now won at least one game.
All three Paulista clubs in action dropped points.
Three of the four Rio clubs picked up points with only Botafogo losing.
Six players were sent off, the highest this season.
Only 18 goals were scored in the nine matches with six teams failing to score and two goalless draws.
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At least the top 13 sides will qualify for continental competition next spring while the bottom four teams will get relegated to the 2012 Serie B. Santos added to the four spots the league gets in the 2012 Copa Libertadores by winning this year's edition.
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Vasco Da Gama, who won the Copa Do Brasil, have booked a spot at the 2012 Copa Libertadores.
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Gremio host Santos on Wednesday to complete this round of games. A big shout out to reader, Abel Machado, who is a Gremio fan and will be watching the game on Wednesday.
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