Abel Ferreira’s leader Palmeiras drew on Sunday in Fortaleza in the 35th round of the Brazilian football championship and was caught in time by Flamengo with three rounds to go.
The São Paulo team had a complicated match in Fortaleza, which took the lead in the twentieth minute through striker Thiago Galhardo, who defended with a low block and began to explore the counter-attack until half-time.
In the first 20 minutes of the second half, the nature of the match did not change, with Palmeiras experiencing great difficulties in breaking through Fortaleza’s defensive wall, a situation that worsened when Paraguayan center Gustavo Gomez was expelled and shown a straight red card. when stopping an opponent who was running alone.
The risks Palmeiras took were many, with the team defending very high up the pitch, and after Abel Ferreira made a risky move, with the arrival of Artur and Rony, who played with four attackers.
However, in the 66th minute, Raphael Veiga ‘invented’ the tie, with a first shot from outside the area that hit this ‘wall’, with the ball falling to him and making another shot that made the ball hit further the post.
Palmeiras didn’t even have time to reorganize as four minutes later Fortaleza made it 2-1 again from a counter-attack, with Calebe beating goalkeeper Weverton in the 70th minute.
All seemed lost for Palmeiras when Zé Rafael made it 2-2 after a corner, finishing a ball that was cleared by the Fortaleza defense, coming back through Piquerez and completing his partner under the guidance of Murilo.
Abel Ferreira, who was sent off in the 72nd minute, felt it was time to stop taking the huge risks he was taking as the draw kept Palmeiras ahead and brought the team back into balance with the addition of central defender Naves and defensive midfielder Fabinho. , that Veiga and Endrick are leaving.
This draw in almost heroic circumstances left Palmeiras in first place with 63 points, as many as Flamengo, who defeated América de Minas Gerais 3-0 on Sunday, losing only on goal difference (54-37 to 58-32).
Unlike ‘Fla’, Botafogo, who already led the league, 14 points ahead of the competition, did not benefit from Palmeiras’ slip and dropped to third place, with 62 points, adding the eighth consecutive match without winning, with a 1-1 home draw against Santos, thanks to a goal from Messias, in the 90th minute.
Fourth is now Atlético Mineiro, owned by Luiz Felipe Scolari, who won 3-0 against Grêmio, who fell to fifth place with 59 points, the same as Bragantino, now sixth.
The team led by the Portuguese Pedro Caixinha lost 1-0 to Internacional in Porto Alegre, making it the fourth match in a row without a win (three defeats and a draw), which strengthens their candidacy for the title, for which they are in a privileged position is at risk. position, against all odds.
A goal from experienced Ecuadorian striker Enner Valencia, in the 30th minute, from a penalty kick, gave the Porto Alegre team the three points.
Also in action this Sunday was the Portuguese coach António Oliveira, responsible for Cuiabá, who managed to achieve a precious goalless draw against São Paulo on Sunday in Morumbi, which gives him ninth place, entry into the South Cup.
Source: DN
