This is the title that no one wants to win.
After Vasco and Corinthians forged ahead of the pack last week, they promptly lost this round. With Botafogo's game versus Santos postponed and Flamengo in free fall, three of the top four all lost.
Corinthians stay still on 40 points after their third loss in five games and Vasco, who had a chance to pip them, remain on 38. They drop to third place however, because Sao Paulo won and although even on points with Vasco, are ahead on goal difference.
Lower down Atletico Mineiro won for a second time in a row, to briefly escape the relegation zone, while At Go's current league best run of five consecutive wins was halted at Fluminense. As a result the top of the league remains compressed with five teams separated by four points. No one seems able to break free of the pack.
Saturday had three games that saw Fluminense take the wind our of At Go's sails with a come from behind 3-2 win at home. While the visitors had gone 2-0 ahead after goals from Bida and goalkeeper Marcio, from the penalty spot, Fluminense stormed back to score three goals in the last eight minutes throught the Rafaels. Sobis scored a double to bring the defending champions level before Moura scored the winner with his ninth goal of the season.
Atletico Mineiro, after a nightmare first half of the season, has started the second half with real intent. Their 2-0 win over Avai was their second in a row, but slightly fortunate again as they opened the scoring courtesy of an own goal from Avai midfielder Arlan. A late goal from Daniel Carvalho, part of their former European contingent, sealed the win. Another European returnee, Mancini, had scored the winning goal from the penalty spot in the earlier round, a 1-0 win at At Para last Wednesday. Still it's hard to get too excited about Mineiro as they started the season with three wins on the trot. Then they lost to Sao Paulo and their season went to rot. Now that they are on a two game winning streak again, no prizes for guessing who they play on Wednesday. That's right, they're even playing at Morumbi.
Speaking of Sao Paulo, they put an end to a run of five winless games by beating Figueirense in Florianopolis. After goals from Cicero and Joao Paulo had levelled matters, old hand Rivaldo, came off the bench at half time to score the winner on the stroke of the hour. Sao Paulo move back up to second spot above Vasco Da Gama.
Sunday had six more games with Palmeiras starting things off by further slipping behind the title race with a home draw to Cruzeiro. While Corinthians, Vasco, Sao Paulo et al have been most generous in dropping points to keep the semblance of a race alive, Palmeiras have done their bit to stay as far behind it as possible. This latest setback was their seventh winless game in their last eight. After Luan scored for the third game in a row, for his seventh, Walter Montillo scored his fifth goal in five games to level things. Montillo now has 11 goals.
Flamengo slipped to another home defeat, losing to Bahia at the Joao Havelange to Bahia. Titi, Dodo and Souza scored the goals for the visitors while Renato Abreu got the only goal for Flamengo. The Rio giants fall to fifth, on 36 points, four points behind Corinthians.
Gremio scored an emphatic win over At Para, with Damien Escudero starting things off, before an Andre Lima hat-trick completed the rout. In a goal-shy season for the Porto Allegre giants, this was a great result that bolsters both their point total and goal difference.
America scored the upset result of the round thrashing Vasco 4-1 at home. The league's bottom club barely stood a chance going in but keeping with the theme of the season, promptly upset the odds along with their visitors. Juninho Pernambucano scored the equaliser for Vasco after Andre Dias opened the scoring. Kempes, Marcos Rocha and a late Andre Dias goal put the result beyond doubt for America who are now just a point behind At Para. Speaking of At Para, they have slipped back down to 19th spot with consecutive defeats following seven games without a loss. They are also winless in four.
Coritiba upset league leaders Corinthians at home, winning 1-0 off a goal from Jonas. The result keeps in 8th while halting Corinthians charge at the top of the table.
In the late game on Sunday, Ceara tied Inter 1-1. Washington, who else, scored for the hosts, while former Everton and Man City forward Jo, levelled matters for Inter. Despite having dropped points, Inter will be glad to have gotten the long trip to the North out of the way.
Borges (14), Ronaldinho (12) and Walter Montillo (11) are still 1-2-3 in the scoring charts.
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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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