Whether it is their daily fix of novelas (over-the-top soap operas), driving at break neck speeds or leaving important things to the last moment (like the building of World Cup stadiums) Brazilians certainly love a drama and love to do things in the most complicated and often most illogical way possible.
Brazilians like their football to reflect their daily lives. The more drama, entertainment and ‘last minuteness’ the better. This season’s Brasileirão will go down to the very last game and probably the very last moment. Entering the final round the Championship title, places in the Copa Libertadores and 3 of the 4 relegation places are all still up for grabs. Next Sunday’s games are poised for all that final game of the season drama that has Jeff Stelling salivating into his mic.
Sunday’s results saw Corinthians maintain a two point lead over Vasco at the top of the table. Their edgy 1–0 victory at Figueirense ensured they go into the final round in pole position. With 90 minutes up second placed Vasco were drawing with third placed, reigning champions, Fluminense. Vasco’s championship aspirations were in tatters until, in the ninty third minute, a Bernardo goal secured all three points; ensuring that the title won’t be decided until the final day of the season.
Next Sunday Corinthians entertain eleventh placed Palmeiras. A win and the title is theirs. A defeat would open the door for Vasco who face a tricky final home game against Flamengo. A draw for Corinthians and a win for Vasco could bring goal difference into play. Radios and calculators at the ready folks.
Life at the bottom of the table is even more complicated. Going into the final game bottom placed Avai are already relegated and it seems they are the only club in Serie A certain of their destiny. However, America MG and Atletico PR both looked doomed. Both need huge wins and then need to rely on miracles elsewhere. Bahia produced another impressive performance drawing 1-1 with Santos. Only a bizarre set of results can now send them down. The final relegation spot looks like falling to either Ceará or Cruzerio. Yesterday these sides played out a nail biting six-pointer. It ended 2–2 with Ceará’s Daniel Marquez eighty second minute equaliser keeping Vozão’s survival chances alive. Next Sunday Cruzeiro host Atletico MG while Ceará face North East rivals Bahia.
Last Saturday my club Sport Recife secured promotion to the top flight on the last day of Serie B. Of course, in true Brazilian tradition, they left it to the last game of the season and almost the last possible moment. A seventy second minute goal secured a 1–0 victory and ensured a nail biting dramatic finale. For the remaining 20 plus minutes Sport seem to toy with their supporters by trying to play samba football in a tropical downpour on a flooded, puddle filled pitch right until the ninty fourth minute.
Keep the ball in the corner? Boot it up the pitch? Why that would have been for too easy and uneventful. Promotion had to be secured in the most dramatic, emotionally filled way possible. Anything else would have lacked the drama of Brazil.
Sport Recife will join Ponte Preta, Serie B champions Portuguesa and cross city rivals Nautico in next season’s Serie A.
