A new leader scales the summit.
As predicted, Vasco Da Gama built on their recent good form to become the latest leaders of the 2011 Brazilian Serie A. Just two defeats, that too away from home, in their last 16 league games, has seen them rise steadily, from sitting just outside the top four, to challenging for the title, to taking the lead outright. A 4-1 hammering at America at the start of September aside, their past three months have been form worthy of champions. Vasco's latest game was a summary 4-0 thrashing handed out to visiting Gremio, their eighth home win and their league leading 13th victory altogether.
Balanced scoring has been one of Vasco's biggest strengths this season and so it was again as Elton, Diego Souza, Eder Luis and Fagner(second game in a row) all got themselves on the scoresheet. Between them the quartet has 18 goals this season. And with two goals coming in the first half and two more in the second, Vasco's final 4-0 scoreline had a unique symmetry to it. They moved into the lead provisionally after their Saturday triumph, and with Corinthians losing on Sunday, Vasco will remain at the summit till the midweek round of games at least. Gremio drop to 13th.
Also on Saturday, early season leaders, Sao Paulo, who are enjoying a Spring revival (Brazil is in the southern hemisphere), at least tried their best to keep pace with a four goal victory themselves, beating faltering Ceara, 4-0, in the late game. Old warhorse Rivaldo scored a fourth (and his fourth of the season to boot) to complete the rout after Juan, Ivan Piris and Casemiro had put Sao Paulo 3-0 up. They now sit in second with 44 points, a point behind Vasco and a point ahead of Corinthians. Sao Paulo, now total 13 wins too and have a difference of +11, one better than leaders Vasco. With their third loss in their last five games, all winless, Ceara remain 15th.
In the early game on Saturday, At Go, continued their excellent recent form with another win, this time 1-0 over Atletico Mineiro, in what would have been a relegation six pointer but a month back. Former Kawasaki Frontale midfielder Vitor Junior scored the game winner, his first of the campaign, for At Go, who rise to 10th. Mineiro remain fourth from bottom.
Sunday saw the remaining 14 teams take the field with the highlight of the proceedings being the Paulista derby between former leaders Corinthians and Copa Libertadores Champions Santos. After a lacklustre first half of the campaign, Santos have pulled out their finger and gotten about rejuvenating their season. This defeat of Corinthians came after Liedson had put Tite's team in the lead, only for summer transfer Henrique and league leading scorer Borges, to turn things around with goals either side of half time. Chicao scored an unfortunate own goal late in the match, after Santos had gone down to 10 men (Henrique had followed up his goal with a straight red just after the hour). As a result Corinthians reign at the top was over, temporarily at least, with them dropping to third place.
Santos are now almost in the top half, rising to 11th with their third win in a row and fifth win in their last seven matches, during which they remain unbeaten. In the other matches, Fluminense, who had been on a tear with four straight wins to threaten a top three spot, promptly lost 3-0 at Bahia. The Salvador giants, gained some welcome respite from a relegation battle with a solid win that keeps them three points ahead of Mineiro in 17th. Souza scored a double, either side of an own goal from Gum, who completed an ignominous hat-trick with a yellow and red card to leave the field in the 70th minute.
In the other games on Sunday, At Para hosted Figueirense to a goalless draw, the same result that Cruzeiro and America battled to.
Palmeiras continued to stutter, drawing 1-1 at Avai, with Chico cancelling out the homeside's early lead through Batista. Another Rivaldo, Gerly and then Rafael Coelho all got dimissed in the game that finished with 19 players. Luiz Scolari's side now drop to eighth spot while Avai drop to 19th.
Flamengo also drew 1-1, still stuck in neutral after ther thrilling rise to the top a month ago. Jael scored again to level Sebastian Abreu's opener for Botafogo, in a result that both teams will be happy to take. Botafogo lsoe some momentum to remain fourth on 41 points but have a game, against Santos, in hand on the teams around them. Flamengo, atleast did not lose a fifth game on the trot but fall to sixth. They are now eight points behind leaders Vasco.
The remaining match was yet another 1-1 draw between Internacional and Coritiba. Oscar scored in the first minute before Emerson equalized just after half time. Internacional's two game winning streak is over, but their unbeaten run continues for a fifth game as they rise to seventh. Coritiba are now ninth.
Borges still leads the scoring charts with 17 goals, four clear of Leandro Damiao in second with 13. Borges has now scored for four games in a row and nine goals in his last eight games.
If Vasco can harbour hopes of a rare League and Cup double, surely Humberlito Borges can aspire to a national team call up ?
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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.
Vasco Da Gama, who won the Copa Do Brasil, have booked a spot at the 2012 Copa Libertadores.
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Week 25 is scheduled for midweek with seven games on Wednesday and three more on Thursday. Sao Paulo host Corinthians on the first day before Vasco entertain At Go on the second. Santos are at America Mineiro.
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