Flamengo miss a trick.
By drawing 2-2 at Internacional on Sunday, Ronaldinho's side missed the chance to take back the lead after Corinthians were defeated at home by Figueirense on Saturday. Tite's side remain two points clear with both having played 18 games. Santos also finally won an away game, beating Bahia 2-1 and get some breathing space at the bottom of the table while Palmeiras, Vasco, and Sao Paulo all dropped points in the chasing pack.
We're almost at the half way stage and the this looks like the title that no one wants to win. The moment someone gets into the lead, they either lose or start dropping points. Also, with Brazil's U-20 side winning the world title, to follow up on the South American U-20 title they won earlier this year, morale is high and several clubs shall be bolstered by the return of their U-20 starlets, notably Internacional with Oscar (ha-trick in the final), Sao Paulo with Casemiro and Henrique and Santos with right back Danilo. Provided none of them get picked up by a European club first.
Ten games on the weekend, with all 20 teams in action.
Corinthians got things started with a spectacular upset loss to visiting Figueirense 2-0. Having wrested back the lead with a win last week, Corinthians promptly surrendered back the advantage with a home loss the very next. Wellington Nem and Wilson Pittoni scored for the visiting Florianopolis side who continue to upset the odds and play havoc with the predictions, especially away from home. Although Corinthians remain in the lead, their advantage is cut down to two points while Fig remain eighth.
Botafogo crushed Atletico Mineiro 3-1 at home, Elkeson and Felipe Menezes, with a double sealing the win for The Fire before Andre notched an injury time consolation for Mineiro. Botafogo refuse to go away are and are nipping on the heels of the chasing pack in fifth. Mineiro remain in the drop zone and the season is just getting worse for the talented team.
The last game on Saturday saw Cruzeiro win for only the second time in seven games with a Walter Montillo penalty giving them three points against Ceara at home. Ceara are 13th and Cruzeiro 11th.
Sunday saw the two big derbies in Rio and Sao Paulo. Palmeiras in sixth lost ground on Botafogo, by drawing 1-1 at Sao Paulo, who are third. Dagoberto and Henrique (the Palmeiras attacker) cancelled each other out. Then Vasco and Fluminense drew 1-1 with Juninho Pernambucano's penalty being levelled by Rafael Moura who scored for the third time in four games. All of Vasco, Palmeiras and Sao Paulo needed a win to keep pace and reduce the gap to Corinthians and will be kicking themselves for not capitalising. Vasco remain fourth while Fluminense are ninth.
Sunday saw three other draws with Flamengo's tie at Inter the most significant, Ronaldinho and Jael scoring for Flamengo to twice give them the lead before Indio and Leandro Damiao, with his third in as many matches, restoring the shared points. Inter are slowly building up a head of steam and could challenge the top of the table. They are in seventh and Flamengo remain second, unable to make up ground on Corinthians.
Avai and Coritiba failed to trouble the scorekeepers, playing a goalless draw. At Para and America also drew 2-2 with Edigar and Marcinho scoring early to give Para a 2-0 lead, only for Kempes and Andre Dias to steal a share of the points.
Diogo Campos, with his second in two games, notched At Go a win over Gremio while Santos finally won an away game and stay their execution, Neymar, with a penalty and Alan Kardec giving them points at Bahia, for whom Junior Pipoca scored.
Santos improve slightly to 15th while At Go are now 12th.
So, with the halfway stage approaching, any of seven teams could realistically still win the title although Corinthians and Flamengo are the main protagonists at this stage.
Ronaldinho and Borges still lead the scoring charts with Ronnie hitting his tenth goal on Sunday.
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Santos was the only Paulista team to win while Botafogo was the only Rio club to register three points.
All teams have won at least once and lost at least once.
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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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A midseason wrap is coming soon.
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