Liedson scored yet again on Sunday to give Corinthians another win, but the Brazilian giants will have to wait one more week to see if they will be champions of the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A. It looked as if they would clinch the title before the final day with seconds remaining in the match between Vasco da Gama and defending champions Fluminense, but Bernardo rescued Vasco with a stoppage time goal, giving them a 2-1 win.
Brasileirao 2011 Down To The Wire After Thrilling Round 37
The title and the Copa Libertadores places will all be up for grabs on the final day of the 2011 Brasileirao after an absolutely spectacular second to last round.
For 25 minutes, the scenes in Brazil were absolutely stunning. As both the Fluminense-Vasco match and Figueirense-Corinthians went deep into the second half - the matches kicked off at the same time - both were tied up at 0-0. In the 68th minute, Liedson broke the deadlock, scoring the eventual winner and only goal of his team’s game, as Corinthians would eventually win 1-0.
Corinthians were the champions of the Brasileirao for the next seven minutes until Alecsandro struck for Vasco in the 75th minute. He’s had a simply dreadful season for Vasco, scoring just twice in 19 appearances before this match, but he gave his team a massive lead with a brilliant header.
Portugal, Porto and Barcelona legend Deco appeared to shatter Vasco’s title dreams and gift Corinthians a title in the 83rd minute with a goal of his own, but Bernardo would find a stoppage time winner, prolonging the race one more week. Vasco live to fight another day, but they are still in need of an absolute miracle.
In the final round of the tournament, Vasco host fourth-placed Flamengo, a team that has experienced a resurgence with the legendary Ronaldinho leading the side. Currently sitting on 65 points, Vasco will need to win while Corinthians lose at home to 11th placed Palmeiras if they are to take the title.
Flamengo currently sit in a Copa Libertadores place and can clinch with a draw, but potentially drop out with a loss. Fluminense are still in third after their loss to Vasco and will at least be in the first stage of the Copa Libertadores, but might need a result against Botafogo on the final day to qualify directly to the second round. Cortiba sit in the final Copa Libertadores spot in fifth, ahead of Figueirense and 2010 Copa Libertadores Champions Internacional on goal differential. Reeling giants Sao Paolo are a point behind and will need to defeat Neymar’s Santos to have a chance to qualify for the Libertadores.
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