Palmeiras lost to Mirasol 2-1 on Sunday evening (9) and saw Flamengo, second in the Brazilian championship, draw on points on aggregate and put pressure on the Alverde club in the title fight – both have 68 points, but the Sao Paulo team is still in the lead due to their win again (21 to 20).
Mirasol scored in the first minute of the match with a goal from Gabriel. Palmeiras managed to equalize in the 29th minute of the first half with a scissor shot from Vitor Roque. But in the 46th minute, Joao Victor extended the goal for Mirasol.
The team from the São Paulo region did not lose at home, and remained in Group D, in fourth place, with 59 points, six points behind Bahia (fifth), and close to a direct place in the Copa Libertadores.
In a previous match at the Maracanã Stadium, Flamengo beat Santos 3-2 and moved closer to the leaders in the title fight.
Rio dominated the match – Leo Pereira opened the scoring at the end of the first half, and Carrascal and Bruno Henrique expanded in the second – but succumbed to pressure in the final minutes of the match from Santos, who scored with Gabriel Bontempo and Lautaro Diaz.
Neymar, who was substituted at the end of the second half, shortly before Santos’ goals, was booed by Flamengo fans and complained about the refereeing of Savio Pereira Sampaio – the referee punished him with a yellow card. “The refereeing is very bad. In addition to being bad, it is arrogant,” he said.
Santos, who remained with 33 points and ranked 17th, missed the opportunity to get out of the relegation zone.
Earlier, on Sunday afternoon, Corinthians lost to Ceara 1-0 at the New Quimica Arena, a second successive defeat for the club, which remains in 13th place with 42 points.
Cruzeiro and Fluminense tied 0-0 at Mineirão Stadium, the same result as the match between Vitoria and Botafogo in El Salvador. Cruzeiro remained in third place in the championship with 64 points.
The tournament leader and his deputy will return to the stadiums on Saturday (15), in postponed matches. Palmeiras will face Santos at 9 p.m., and Flamengo will play against Sport at 6:30 p.m.
About The Author
