The decisive game

On October 25, 2009 São Paulo plays Santos for the Brazilian Cup. I would say that this is the decisive game to decide whether São Paulo still has a chance to win the competition or not. Palmeiras lost to Santo André on Wednesday. It is São Paulo's chance to only stay 2 points behind the leader.

I presume the game will be difficult. Both teams need to win so the game will probably be very equal. São Paulo has not won on the past few games and a victory will definately cheer up the team. The game against Santos will be at Vila Belmiro. Rogério Ceni, São Paulo's goalie admits that São Paulo hasn't been playing very well, but says that a victory might solve the problems. For São Paulo to be "heptacampeão" (win the cup 7 times) he believes tomorrow will be the decisive game.

What will happen next?

With the end of the Brazilian Cup getting near, São Paulo's followers must be wondering, what is up with all these bad games? São Paulo has wasted the opportunity to be tied with Palmeiras in 1st place. If he had won the last two games, São Paulo would have 54 points, the same as Palmeiras. Was it all about bad luck or is São Paulo playing badly?

The Cup is still open for new champions. Palmeiras is not VERY ahead of the teams. Only two losses are necessary for São Paulo to pass him (if São Paulo wins of course). Not only São Paulo, but other teams like Internacional still has a chance to win. There is no way to predict what will happen in the last 9 games.

The constant undecision of who will play in the attack of São Paulo may be one of the reasons why São Paulo isn't scoring like he is used to. Washington and Borges (São Paulo's attack players) have been each playing randomly. This might be one of the reasons that influence the difficulty to score goals São Paulo is facing. São Paulo has scored 40 goals in the Brazilian Cup, the worse attack of the teams who are in G-4. According to Washington, a sequence of games is important for a player to generate confidence and be able to score goals. He says that revising with Borges might explain as to why São Paulo has only scored 40 goals in 29 games.

Those who read this post, please go to the bottom part of the blog and vote. Who should play in São Paulo's attack?

São Paulo x Flamengo (what a disaster)

On October 10, 2009 São Paulo played against Flamengo and once again lost his chances to get near Palmeiras in the Brazilian Cup. The game took place on Maracanã and had approximately 29,000 people watching the game. Flamengo pressured São Paulo from the beginning to the end. At about 20 minutes of the 1st half, São Paulo scored a goal after a beautiful pass from Dagoberto to Hernanes, who dribbled Flamengo's goalie and scored. São Paulo was able to maintain the score until about 20 minutes from the 2nd half, when Flamengo had the opportunity to tie the game. Flamengo had a penalty kick. Petkovic was the chosen one to shoot the penalty kick. Petkovic kicked, but Rogério Ceni defended the ball. The game was 1x0, until the referee said the penalty kick had to be taken again because Rogério walked before Petkovic kicked the ball. After that, Petkovic scored for Flamengo. The game later became more equal. When the game was almost ending, Flamengo had another opportunity to score and did not waste it. The game ended 2x1.

I think São Paulo had the opportunity to win the game, but Flamengo definately played better and was more efficient offensively. São Paulo is 5 points behind Palmeiras, who plays on Monday. I think São Paulo's dream of winning the cup will end if Palmeiras wins. São Paulo has once again gotten a bad result. If things keep up like this, we have no chance. I still have faith in São Paulo. PALMEIRAS HAS TO LOSE =D

São Paulo x Náutico

On September 30, 2009 São Paulo played against Náutico. The game was very exciting. São Paulo had the obligation to win so he would still have chances to win the cup. The game was very hard. In the beginning of the match, Junior César committed a penalty. Fortunately, Bosco was able to defend the kick and avoid the goal. 10 minutes later, Bruno Mineiro scored a goal for Náutico. The game was 1x0, a horrible result for São Paulo. To make the situation worse, both Junior César and Richarlyson were given a red card. São Paulo had 9 players while Náutico had 11 players. Fortunately, in the beginning of the second half Hernanes scored a goal, making the game equal once again. To make the game even better for São Paulo, 2 players of Náutico also received the red card, so the teams now had an equal number of players. When the game seemed to end in 1x1, Hugo scored a beautiful goal at 43 minutes of the second half. The game was won.

Summing up 3 more points on the cup was a great result for São Paulo. I think São Paulo still has great chances to win the Brazilian cup. After winning this game, Palmeiras has the pressure to win against Santos. I think the victory was conquered because São Paulo did not quit. He seeked the goal until the end of the match.