Goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni scored one of his trademark free kicks as Sao Paulo hammered Marilia 6-0 at the weekend to stay unbeaten this year. Sao Paulo’s win took them seven points clear of Santos, who were held 3-3 at home by America amid calls for the sacking of Oswaldo de Oliveira.
Two goals from midfielder Danilo and one from Junior gave Sao Paulo a 3-0 halftime lead in the Paulista championship match before further goals from Marco Antonio and Grafite made it 5-0. Rogerio’s 25-metre free kick capped their performance.
Corinthians beat arch rivals Palmeiras 2-0 in a bad tempered derby to go third. Midfielder Roger opened the scoring with an early free kick and Carlos Alberto converted a late penalty, his first goal since his move from European champions FC Porto. Tempers flared as Gustavo Nery of Corinthians and Glauber of Palmeiras were sent off for an ugly clash.
Mean while in Rio, Tulio, who scored the notorious “Hand of God” goal for Brazil against Argentina in the 1995 Copa America, grabbed four goals, including two penalties, as Volta Redonda beat Olaria 5-3 in the Carioca championship. Unfashionable “Voltaco,” who won the competition’s first stage, also lead Group A in the second stage.
Nine-man Flamengo held Vasco da Gama to a 2-2 draw at the Maracana with Junior Baiano collecting his third red card since November. Flamengo also had Adrianinho sent off for a second yellow card offence. Thirty-nine-year-old Romario scored Vasco’s first goal with a typically well-taken effort from inside the penalty area.
Rio Championship
19/03/05
Portuguesa-RJ 1 x 0 Americano-RJ
Madureira 1 x 2 Botafogo-RJ
20/03/05
Friburguense-RJ 2 x 5 Fluminense
Cabofriense 1 x 0 América-RJ
Olaria 3 x 5 Volta Redonda
Vasco 2 x 2 Flamengo
Paulista Championship
19/03/05
Ituano 4 x 1 Guarani Municipal
União São João 4 x 5 São Caetano
Portuguesa Santista 1 x 0 Santo André
São Paulo 6 x 0 Marília
Ponte Preta 2 x 0 Inter de Limeira
20/03/05
Paulista-SP 1 x 2 União Barbarense
Atlético Sorocaba 0 x 2 Portuguesa
Corinthians 2 x 0 Palmeiras
Rio Branco-SP 4 x 1 Mogi Mirim
Santos 3 x 3 América-SP
