It’s all over, and I can’t remember enjoying a Brazilian Championship so much for years. On a random and purely personal basis, these were some of my favourite moments.
1 – Palmeiras 1 Botafogo 0.
This was in the opening round towards the end of May. That night I did a Brazilian TV programme with Marcio Guedes, journalist and veteran Botafogo fan. I remember us talking about how poor the team had been, and that even allowing for the fact that centre forward Abreu was suspended, it was hard to imagine Botafogo scoring a goal. The season was going to be a long slog against relegation.
We were not even close. Once Caio Junior had sorted the team out Botafogo became a fee scoring side which until a late collapse were even shaping up as title contenders. There aretimes when it’s great to be be proved wrong.
2 – Santos 4 Flamengo 5
This was the night that I flew back to Rio after covering the Copa America in Argentina. I had had enough of football, and didn’t realy want to see the game – until the drama unfolded and it was impossible not to watch. Neymar against Ronaldinho always promised, but this game more than delivered. Neymar scored a goal that defies belief, and Ronaldinho was at his most cunning, inspiring hopes (not really fulfilled) that he might still get back to his best.
3 – Vasco 4 Gremio 0
Soon after the Copa I spent a month in London, and came back feeling very out of touch with the Brazilian Championship. Whenever I have been away for a while I have a ritual – catch the 472 bus to Sao Januario, home of Vasco da Gama. It takes you on a winding route through some of the back streets of Sao Cristovao. Confronting you with the realities of big city Brazil. And at the end of the road was Romulo – Vasco’s midfielder gave a display of quiet accomplishment which filled me with hope that I was watching a player of future importance in the national team.
4 – Botafogo 2 Sao Paulo 2
Simply a great game. Botafogo at the peak of their form, with Elkeson, Maicosuel and Herrera laying on the chances for Abreu, go two up before half time. Abreu misses an easy chance for a third soon after the interval and Sao Paulo hit back, substitute Rivaldo much more collective than in his heyday, organising the ir play and heading an injury time equaliser. There was even time for him to miss a golden chance to score the winner. Many home fans booed at the final whistle – clearly they like Botafogo more than they like football.
5 – Fluminense 3 Coritiba 1
Because at half time Deco dropped from the top of a midfield diamond to a deeper position, supplying the clarity to turn a 1-1 draw into a 3-1 win – thus disproving the dogma that talented players should always operate close to the opposing goal.
6 – Flamengo 5 Cruzeiro 1
Because no one who saw the first half hour or so would ever believe the scoreline. Cruzeiro took the lead and then hit the bar twice, one of them from a penalty. Totally outplayed, Flamengo equalised 10 minutes before half time when Deivid’s long shot struck the Cruzeiro bar, hit keeper Fabio on the back and trickled over the line. A tale of two bars and a tale of two halves. After the break it was one way traffic.
7 – Vasco 2 Botafogo 0
A lesson in football as a dynamic process. Earlier in the season Botafogo won this game 4-0, tearing Vasco apart with long, quick diagonal passes to the flanks. A few months later, in the same stadium, the same teams produced a very different spectacle. Vasco coach Cristovao Borges had done his homework. Bravely he dropped his centre forward and instead concentrated on blocking Botafogo down the flanks. His marking system nearly came unstuck just once, when Elkeson latched on to a cross and fired just wide. After that, though, there was only one side in it, and Vasco’s victory was every bit as convincing as Botafogo’s had been.
8 – Fluminense 5 Gremio 4
All things have an explanation – with the possible exception of this crazy game. Another inexplicable phenomenon is why Fred has not achieved even more in the game. On tonight’s four goal form, the Fluminense number nine looks on a par with any centre forward in the world.
9 – Vasco 2 Fluminense 1
Because Bernardo’s injury time winner took the drama to the last round, giving the championship the drama it deserved.
10 – Corinthians 2 Atletico Mineiro 1
Adriano’s 89th minute winner was the only goal he has scored in 18 months. But if he never kicks another ball for Corinthians then he has already assured himself of a place in the club’s history. His precise cross shot – that left foot of his has always had surprising subtlety as well as raw power – ensured that Corinthians retained their two point margin over Vasco with two rounds to go. Adriano celebrating, overweight and untidy but wild with joy, is one of the most striking images of the 2011 Brazilian Championship.
After sifting though all of these wonderful memories, isn’t it a shame that we have to wait until the end of May for the next version of the Brazilian Championship?
