Shameful scenes in Argentina (Getty Images)
All five Brazilian clubs have classified for the second round of this year’s Copa Libertadores. Santos and Fluminense both squeezed through after wins on the last match day.
In the night’s most emotional game Fluminense beat Argentinos Juniors 4-2 away from home and snuck through on goals scored (eliminating Nacional from Uruguay in the process). Continue reading
Hasn't fully lived up to expectations yet (Ricardo Ramos/VIPCOMM)
Ronaldinho missed a penalty in the last kick of the game against Macaé in their Rio Cup match. A win would have put Flamengo (who beat Botafogo in a crunch match last weekend thanks to two goals from Thiago Neves) top of their group and meant a semi-final at home to Olaria. With the draw, however, they finished second in their group behind Vasco (who drew 2-2 with Olaria and will face them in the semi) and now play away to Fluminense in the semi-final. Fluminense have recovered well in the competition and topped their group. Continue reading
Santos beat Colo Colo 3-2 at home in their must win game last night. There chances of qualifying for the next phase are far from certain though. Last night they had Neymar, Elano and Ze Eduardo sent off and they will all miss the next game away to Cerro Porteí±o.
Fluminense are all but out of the competition after losing to Nacional from Uruguay 2-0.
Internacional lost 1-0 against Jaguares in Mexico but still lead their group with one game to go.
In the Brazilian Cup, São Paulo beat Santa Cruz 2-0 to go through to the next round. Atlético Mineiro were the only big club to surprisingly lose.
Will write more soon.
Ronaldinho and Flamengo have it all to do against Botafogo (Ricardo Ramos/VIPCOMM)
In the Sao Paulo State Championship Palmeiras deservedly beat Santos 1-0 with some good defending and counter attacking football (okay it was somewhat bureaucratic). Kleber scored their goal in the second half. Continue reading
About time, Deco (Getty Images)
Fluminense put in a massive effort to come from behind and beat América-MEX (from Mexico) 3-2 and keep alive their chances in the 2011 Copa Libertadores. Continue reading
The problems at Fluminense and Santos deepened over the weekend after both teams slipped to defeat against lower league (on a national basis) opposition in their respective State Championships. Continue reading
Muricy quits Fluminense (Getty Images)
Muricy Ramalho has sensationally quit as coach of Fluminense. The news is a huge surprise since Muricy turned down the chance to coach the seleção (Brazilian national team) last year in order to honour his contract with Fluminense. It also comes less than four months after he won the National Championship with Fluminense. Muricy cited a lack of structure and Santos (currently coach-less) are said to be interested. Continue reading
Down and out? (Getty Images)
Fluminense and Santos both had disappointing results in the Copa Libertadores last night. Fluminense slipped to a 1-0 defeat against América in Mexico City while Santos conceded a last minute penalty and drew 1-1 with Cerro Porteí±o at home. Cruzeiro drew 0-0 with Deportes Tolima in Colombia. Continue reading
Wallyson scores another two (Juliana Flister - VIPCOMM)
It was a mixed week for Brazilian clubs in the Copa Libertadores as Cruzeiro and Internacional produced convincing wins while Grêmio lost in Colombia and Fluminense drew at home. Continue reading
Felipe was the hero for Flamengo after saving two penalties against Botafogo (Alexandre Loureiro/VIPCOMM)
A few days after my rant against Vanderlei Luxemburgo, Flamengo beat Botafogo on penalties to set up a final with Boavista next weekend in the Taça Guanabara. The Taça Guanabara is a fancy name to say part 1 of the Rio State Championship Continue reading