Brasileirao Breakdown: Seedorf silences critics and Ferreira leads from the back

Fabio Ferreira

With title leaders Cruzeiro hitting a stumbling block, the midweek fixtures in the Brasileirao threw up some interesting results as the campaign enters the final stretch.

There were stunning upsets and absorbing basement battles in the latest round as teams desperately try to avoid the dreaded drop with several famous names being dragged into the mire.

Serginho will take the plaudits, but it was Fabio Ferreira who lead from the back to help his side to a vital win that sees them edge closer to safety after languishing in the relegation zone for some time.

Ferreira recorded an 80 per cent success rate in both tackles and headed duels to prevent Gremio from scoring a second time.

Cruzeiro 0-2 Sao Paulo

The clash between title leaders Cruzeiro and relegation battlers Sao Paulo was very evenly contested, so much so that the stats for both sides were virtually identical, apart from one key area.

Sao Paulo completed substantially more take-ons, many of them in the middle of Cruzeiro’s third which helped the Tricolor open up one of the best defences in the league.

Two clinical finishes gave Sao Paulo a much needed win and sees them avoid the relegation zone – for the time being anyway.

Nautico 1 -3 Botafogo

Botafogo’s return to winning ways against Nautico was the result of a masterclass from the Fogao’s Dutch maestro Clarence Seedorf, who silenced his detractors with a first-half strike.

Seedorf then set about orchestrating Botafogo’s victory with an 82 per cent pass completion rate, winning all three of his tackles and recording a performance score of 94.

Botafogo themselves will be delighted to taste victory once more after ending a winless streak of six games, just in time to battle with Gremio for second spot.

Ponte Preta 2-0 Atletico Mineiro

Ponte Preta recorded a vital win over Atletico Mineiro in what must go down as one of the scrappiest games in the history of Brazilian football.

An incredible 48 fouls were committed between the two teams in arguably one of the dirtiest spectacles, with Atletico’ s Rosinei and Jemerson also receiving their marching orders.

That’s a foul every 112 seconds. Safe to say that relegation candidates Ponte Preta might just have literally fought their way to victory.

Vasco da Gama 1-0 Fluminense

Vasco da Gama’s win over defending champions Fluminense came as a result of winning a physical battle on the pitch, a superhuman effort by the Rio de Janeiro side.

An incredible 27 tackles were won from 31 attempted, as well as 27 successful clearances, held the Tricolor at bay. A dogged resistance after taking the lead through Cris in the 11th minute.

A superb result that sees Vasco edge closer to safety whilst dragging Fluminense closer to the relegation zone.

Gremio 1-2 Criciuma

Criciuma’s victory over second-placed Gremio came on the back of an excellent defensive performance by the away side capped off by a winner from Serginho in the dying seconds of the game.