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Corinthians won their second game in a row Wednesday and the 1-0 win over top of the table Cruzeiro was enough to lift them into third spot in the table, one point off the lead.
The match was a pairing of the two teams with the best defence (Corinthians) and best attack (Cruzeiro) in the league.
But it was the home side that made most of the running in the opening spell at the Canindé stadium and opposition keeper Fábio was forced to make a series of good stops.
In the 6th minute, he saved a long-range Bruno Henrique shot. Two minutes alter he got down to thwart Paulo Guerrero. And in the 12th minute he stopped Jadson from breaking the deadlock after he got on the end of a low cross from Fagner.
Cruzeiro came back into the match and started to trouble Fábio’s counterpart in the Corinthians net. With just over a quarter of an hour gone, Walter had to make two quick saves in succession to stop first a volley from Willian and then a point-blank strike from Ricardo Goulart, who seized on the rebound.
Walter had to use his reflexes again in the 26th minute. Borges deflected a free kick into the path of Henrique just yards from goal but the big keeper pulled off a great save.
That was the signal for Corinthians to perk up again and just four minutes later they almost took the lead. Petros won possession from Bruno Henrique and strode forward before letting off a powerful shot but Fábio was on hand again to ensure the scoreline remained blank.
The second half started as the first ended with Corinthians pressing and Fábio outstanding. Romarinho forced him into another good save in the 50th minute and just moments later Fabio Santos’s shot from outside the box sailed over the bar.
Corinthians’ patience paid off in the 67th minute and this time there was nothing the Cruzeiro keeper could do. Guerrero brought down a long clearance and exchanged passes with Romarinho. The Peruvian’s long distance shot looked speculative but it took a deflection and an awkward bounce to beat Fabio and Corinthians were 1-0 up.
The Timão had two late chances to double their lead but both times the woodwork came to Cruzeiro’s aid. With just seconds remaining, Guerrero’s header hit the bar and then Luciano’s shot from the rebound also exploded off the woodwork. Still, the points were in the bag and Corinthians’ fans went home happy.
The win takes Corinthians to 15 points after eight games. Their next match, the last before the break for the World Cup, is against Botafogo at the Arena Corinthians on Sunday.
CORINTHIANS 1- 0 CRUZEIRO
Arena Canindé, Brazilian Serie A 2014
TEAMS
Corinthians: Walter; Fagner (Guilherme Andrade), Cleber, Gil and Fábio Santos; Ralf, Bruno Henrique, Petros (Danilo) and Jadson; Romarinho (Luciano) and Guerrero. Manager: Mano Menezes
Cruzeiro: Fábio; Ceará (Mayke), Léo, Bruno Rodrigo and Egídio; Willian Farias, Henrique (Julio Baptista), Éverton Ribeiro and Ricardo Goulart; Willian (Dagoberto) and Borges. Manager: Marcelo Oliveira
GOALS
Guerrero (COR)
YELLOW CARDS
Cleber and Petros (COR)
Tags: notícia, wp_post_id_14187
Categoria(s): Institucional