Author: Vishwajit Sawant
Lucas Lima’s incredible free-kick keeps Santos and Internacional level
In a thrilling game at Vila Belmiro, Santos and Internacional drew 1-1 in the ninth round of the Brazilian Championship.
The game started with a bang, with Luiz Adriano putting Internacional ahead in the second minute, taking advantage of a momentary gap in the opposition’s defense. However, Lucas Lima responded quickly with a free-kick to restore equality for Santos in the 12th minute. The match gained momentum towards the end of the first half, but neither team managed to open the scoring.
In the second half, Santos maintained control, but missed chances hindered their quest for victory. The match ended with both goals scored in the first half. Santos secured a valuable point, bringing their total to 12 in the table, while Internacional are just behind on 11 points.
Hulk’s sensational goal secures victory for Atlético-MG in fierce derby against Cruzeiro
In a hotly contested match between Cruzeiro and Atlético-MG at Parque do Sabiá in Uberlândia, it was Atlético-MG who emerged victorious thanks to a decisive goal from Hulk.
In the 27th minute, Hulk took a remarkable free-kick from the middle of the pitch and hit the left corner of Rafael Cabral’s goal. The ecstatic Atlético-MG striker celebrated with the fans, while the Cruzeiro supporters criticized the goalkeeper for his repeated mistakes in the derby against their rivals.
In the second half, Cruzeiro stepped up the chase, creating several chances, while Atlético-MG concentrated predominantly on defensive tactics, thus finding it relatively easy to deal with the flood of balls sent into their area, as they weren’t exposed to any major dangers.
With the win, Atlético-MG collected 17 points, securing second place in the standings, four points behind leaders Botafogo. On the other hand, Cruzeiro dropped to 10th place with 13 points, further distancing themselves from the lead. With the result, Celeste are in danger of falling even further after the end of the matchday.
Athletico-PR beat Botafogo 1-0
The game unfolded with Athletico-PR relying on quick transitions and attacks, while Botafogo struggled to find openings for the final pass. Both teams struggled to create meaningful chances.
However, it was Alex Santana who opened the scoring in the 42nd minute, taking advantage of the space and unleashing a sensational shot from outside the area, which found the top corner out of Lucas Perri’s reach. Botafogo’s players were visibly shaken by their opponents’ goal and were unable to react. The first half ended with Athletico-PR winning 1-0.
In the second half, Athletico-PR kept up their high intensity, pressing in search of a second goal. Botafogo tried to build attacking moves, but struggled to shake off the host team’s incessant pressure.
Athletico-PR came close to doubling their lead with chances created by Vitor Roque, Cuello and Canobbio, but their finishing was poor. On the other hand, Botafogo had a few chances through Júnior Santos and Tiquinho, but lacked the fluidity and consistency needed to score the equalizer.
América-MG beat Corinthians 2-0
Corinthians made a tactical change with three defenders, but it was América-MG who emerged victorious in a hard-fought battle at the Arena Independência.
Both teams showed an attacking approach at the start of the game, and Corinthians almost opened the scoring with a shot from Róger Guedes that hit the crossbar. Caetano made a crucial tackle to prevent América-MG scoring. However, as the match progressed, both teams struggled to create meaningful chances, with Coelho missing the final pass and Timão finding it difficult to construct moves.
In the second half, both teams continued to struggle offensively until the 70th minute. A video review led to a penalty being awarded to América-MG after a handball by Caetano. Danilo Avelar converted the penalty in the 74th minute, beating Cássio despite the goalkeeper having touched the ball. Renato Marques extended the lead in the 87th minute. In the 91st minute, Fábio Santos failed to score from the penalty spot with a shot from outside the area.
The defeat halted Corinthians’ positive run and they dropped to 15th place on eight points, just one point above the relegation zone. América-MG picked up their second win of the Brasileirão to reach seven points, but remain in the relegation zone on goal difference.
Fortaleza and Bahia draw goalless in northeastern derby
Fortaleza and Bahia met at the Castelão Arena in a much-anticipated Northeastern derby, which ended 0-0
Both teams were intent on attacking from the start, with Thiago Galhardo coming close to opening the scoring for Fortaleza with a header. Bahia responded with a near miss from Thaciano. However, as the game progressed, the sweltering heat took its toll, slowing the pace and limiting chances.
Fortaleza stepped up their efforts in the second half, launching a relentless attack on the Bahia defense. The team created several promising chances, including a point-blank shot from Pikachu and a header from Lucero. Despite their dominance, Fortaleza failed to convert their pressure into goals, frustrating the home fans. A disallowed goal added to the frustrations, as Zanocelo’s goal was disallowed because Lucero was offside during the play.
The result leaves Fortaleza in 6th place with 14 points, while Bahia are in 15th place with 8 points. Fortaleza will then visit Botafogo in Rio de Janeiro, while Bahia will host Cruzeiro at the Fonte Nova Arena. Both teams will be looking to secure crucial wins in their next games.