Brazilan State Leagues: Americana Moves Top Of Paulista, Botafogo Stays Perfect In Carioca

If you’re an aspiring expert on Brazilian futebol but haven’t heard of Charles, feel free to admit so to your friends. With his move to Americana, Charles vaults two levels of Brazilan football, recently moving from Serie D’s Joinville. He made an immediate impact, scoring against São Paulo’s Botafogo in his debut. Tonight, at a previously undefeated (albeit winless, though four) Noroests, Charles scored three goals while assisting on a fourth, leading his side to a 5-1 win.

Americana has now won four of their first five matches, temporarily moving two points clear at the top of the league, leading a pack that includes Santos, Palmeiras (at Portuguesa, tomorrow), and Mirassol, whose 1-0 win at Oeste pushed the fourth division side to 3-1-1 early in the competition. Other results from Saturday: a trade of goals late at the Bruno José Daniel left Santo André drawn with visiting Ituano, while São Caetano built on their dramatic mid-week draw at Santos, earning a 0-0 draw at Ponte Preta.

Standings: 1. Americana, 12 pts (4-0-1), 2. Santos, 10 pts (3-1-0), 3. Palmeiras, 10 pts (3-1-0), 4. Mirasol, 10 pts (3-1-1), 5. São Paulo, 9 pts (3-0-1)

Like Americana, Resende has taken a tenuous hold on first place pending Sunday’s result from their competition’s favorite. Then, Flamengo takes on Vasco, trying to extend their perfect start to four wins against an opponent that’s lost all three of their matches. But for now, Resende can call-up GloboEsporte and see their name at the top of Group A, their 1-0 win over Volta Redonda giving them 10 points through four matches.

In Group B, Botafogo stayed perfect with a 3-1 win over visiting Olaria, whose only loses this tournament have come against Fluminense (also still perfect) and Botafogo. Two goals from Sebastian Abreu built on Renato Cajá‘s first minute opener, giving El Loco four goals in as many matches.

Elsewhere, two late goals from Rodrigo Oliviera got Maduriera a dramatic 3-3 draw at Duque de Caxias, Madruriera’s first point of the competition. Nova Iguaçu, a club that has yet to break into the national championship, is on course to change that after their 2-0 win over America, moving them to 2-2-0 on the season and an early third place standing in Group A.

Standings (top two teams from each group reach second stage/playoffs), Group A: Resende, 10 pts (3-1-0), Flamengo, 9 pts (3-0--0), Nova Iguaçu, 8 pts (2-2-0); Group B: Botafogo, 12 pts (4-0-0), Fluminense, 9 pts (3-0-0), Bangu, 6 pts (2-0-1)

Seven Sunday matches left only on Gaúcho fixture today, with Inter Santa Maria and Novo Hamburgo feeling as excited about the slate as we were. The teams played to a 0-0 at the Presidente Vargas, both clubs still outside of a spot in the tournament’s second stage.

Standings (top four teams from each group advance to next stage), Group 1: Internacional, 9 pts (3-0-1), Ypiranga Erichem, 8 pts (2-2-0), Caxais, 7 pts (2-1-1), Lajaedens, 7 pts (2-1-1), Novo Hamburgo, 6 pts (1-3-1); Group 2: Juventude, 9 pts (3-0-1), Gremio, 8 pts (2-2-0), Veranópolis, 7 pts (2-1-1), Pelotas, 5 pts (1-2-1), Santa Cruz, 4 pts (1-1-2)

The opening weekend of the Minas Gerais competition saw two 1-1 draws. Athlético Miniero, the defending champions, where drawn by visiting Uberaba, who got a late Marcinho Antonio goal to force the surprise result.

At Tupi, a 63rd minute goal from Yan saved the home side, but the news came with Villa Novo’s goal. Argentine Matias Palermo became the first foreign player to score for Villa, a reportedly stunning goal in the 21st minute. Tupi had their chances for a late winner only to be deterred by a strong performance from Villa `keeper Wagner.