Campeonato Brasileiro round 21 – Grêmio slip at Flamengo

Toró gets the winner for Flamengo

Grêmio blew the chance to go 8 points clear at the top when they went down 2-1 away at Flamengo.

These were the first goals Grêmio had conceded in 7 matches and their first defeat in 11. Victor made an uncharacteristic error when he fumbled Juan’s long-range effort and Maxi pounced onto the rebound for Fla’s opener. Grêmio drew level after Souza fired in an unstoppable free-kick late in the second period. But Toró’s strike gave Fla a much-needed win.

However, the leaders had some luck as two of their closest rivals also slipped up and Grêmio retain their 5 point lead over the chasing pack.

Cruzeiro lost their second in three games after going down 1-0 away at an in-form Botafogo. A Lúcio Flávio penalty was the match’s only goal. The Rio outfit have won their last six outings (a new club record in the Brasileiro) and have now moved to 3^rd in the table.

Palmeiras’ woeful away form continued at Internacional. The São Paulo team took the lead after Alex Mineiro dived in the area and then converted the resultant penalty. But within minutes, Palmeiras were trailing after Indio headed home for the first of his two, and Alex hit a terrific strike. Taison rounded off the evening by getting his first for the club.

São Paulo had to come from behind to beat Atlético Paranaense 3-1 in the estádio Morumbi. Muricy Ramalho’s team moved to 5^th but the current champs are 8 points behind leaders Grêmio.

Coritiba trounced Figueirense 3-0 in the estádio Couto Pereira. Keirrison grabbed his 11^th of the season, which leaves him 2 behind Palmeiras’ Alex Mineiro and Santos’ Kléber Pereira.

Vasco’s first away win was picked up at the expense of Portuguesa. Alex Teixeira’s goal was enough to sink Portuguesa into the bottom four. Early this week, the São Paulo club all but guaranteed they’d be heading back to Série B after selling Diogo to Olympiakos. 

Fluminense also got their first win on the road after beating fellow strugglers Náutico 3-1 in Recife. Washington scored his second hat-track of the campaign.

Santos could only draw 1-1 away at Ipatinga. But the point wasn’t enough for the Ipatinga management and coach Ricardo Drubscky was fired after the game. 

See the table and all the results here

See the goals here