Fútbolita

Palmeiras-Corinthians will forever always remind us of that louco Brazilian film, Romeo and Juliet Get Married where the characters come from a family of opposing hardcore supporters. They would’ve loved result in yesterday’s 2-2 draw! Ronaldo Lima scored a double for the Timao while Danilo and Maurício did the favour for Palmeiras. All the goals came in the first half.

In the other game, Nilmar’s former team, Internacional, were unable to pull off a victory against Botafogo. They were down 0-1 in the second minute when Juninho struck for the visiting side. However, Inter still think they can win the Championship.

“It’s no use trying to make excuses. We do not play well. We conceded a goal early. We had a lot of pressure from the fans. We have to recognize that everyone fought to the end to try to break even and turn the game,” said coach Mário Sérgio. Well, at least their fans know how to turn the heat up…literally!

Photos via UOL and Reuters

• Ok, she’s not playing in the Brasileirao … but Marta still led Santos to the first Female Copa Libertadores victory after a convincing 9-0 win over Universidad de Assunción yesterday. Need we say more?
• Flamengo stunned leaders Palmeiras with a neat 2-0 victory thanks to a double (again) from Dejan Petkovic. Well, Vagner Love (remember him?!) missed a penalty for his new side but apart from that, was highly ineffective throughout the game. Someone also forgot to leave ice-cream cones in Adriano’s locker room. Nevertheless, Palmeiras still lead the table at 54 points followed by Flamengo, Goias and Cruzeiro.
• Elsewhere, Corinthians are continuing the disappoint and they fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Sport Recife yesterday. Ronaldo, ta me ouvindo??
• In another game, Fluminense and Internacional tied 2-2.

It appears that Santos seems to have a larger army of female supporters as opposed to Palmeiras, but despite seeking divine intervention, they were still unable to pull off a home win against o poderoso! It must’ve been the tia’s hat above. Her friend is reading a cooking magazine…! I want to meet these women, por favor.

Anyway, Palmeiras thrashed Santos 3-1 and the goals all came in the second half. Despite Luizinho’s 54th minute opener for Pele’s beloved team, the Verdão showed them who was king when Diego Souza, Robert and Vagner Love all scored with kisses for their visiting fans. Amazing. Unfortunately, Neymar picked up a yellow card for himself… but that doesn’t mean Juventus and their scouts aren’t watching.

Her team may be at the bottom of the Brasileirao table but Sport Club’s Wanessa Matos is this year’s newly elected Musa do Brasileirão after winning 55% of the votes! The annual “beauty pageant” is held alongside the Brasileirao  and every team in the league submits their own beauty queen.

Wanessa defeated Corinthians’ Siara Pacheco, Santos’ Thalita Wagner and Goiás’ Lucilene Ceatano in a series of ‘challenges’ to take the crown. Last year’s winner was Palmeiras representative, Ariane Gonzalez. “I’m so happy, I don’t even know what to say!” exclaimed Wanessa, 22, after winning. Watch the finals below.

• Back to football, Palmeiras held Sao Paulo to a stalemate (uhhh.. boring!!), but they remain at the top of the championship after Inter (the Brazilian ones) thrashed Goais 4-0.
• Elsewhere, Gremio were held to an entertaining 3-3 draw by Botafogo at the Engenhao stadium in Rio. A double from Jonas and a third from Souza was equalised by Botafogo courtesy of Reinaldo, Victor Simoes and Leandro Guerreiro, who came in three minutes before the final whistle.
• Flamengo cruised past Santo Andre 3-0 at Maracana stadium. Denis Marques, Leo Moura and Ze Roberto scored for the most widely supported club in the country.

• Unfortunately Brasileirao’s reigning top scorer, Adriano hasn’t been living up to his name. Instead, the king of churrascarias wasted his chances during Gremio’s 4-1 drubbing of Flamengo yesterday. Goals from Perea, Réver and a double from Jonas chalked up three points for the Gaúchos, who’re now in a better position to secure a spot in the Libertadores. Sorry, Ana…now you can’t make those tricolor jokes at me!
  
• Speaking of Sao Paulo, they’ve extended their winning streak to six games after a 2-1 win over Sport thanks to goals from Washington and Hugggoooooo.
  
• Palmeiras battled to a 1-1 draw against Botafogo who were the first to score in the 23rd minute. Lucio Flavio fed the ball to Andre Lima who blasted it beautifully into the net. [Watch the video below!]
  
• Corinthians, who’re still without the injured Ronaldo, defeated Atletico Mineiro 2-0 at the Pacaembu stadium to end their five-match winless streak. The four-time national champions have not won a game since their 2-1 result against Vitoria on July 23.

We’re at that time of the year again where everyone’s getting married and talking about their childhood dreams (all of a sudden), because well, you know you can’t say shizzle like “We’ll try our best to score today” or “It’s an empoooordand game fur us.”

One of these hombres we speak of is Keirrison, who is not getting any love from his Palmeiras teammates for being a bitch and not saying goodbye properly.

“I am close to achieving the dream – my life’s dream. I’ve always been a fan of (Barca’s) since the time Romário played there and I was a child. I always wanted to follow his footsteps because he is the player I most admired,” he said. “I’ve always said openly that my childhood dream was to be a player of Barcelona. It is something that everybody knows in Brazil and now things are turning out really well.”

According to Sport, Kerri has a special buy-out clause at Barca – which is substantially less than other clubs. You can have him if you’re willing to pay 15 million euros (U.S. $ 43 million).

Photo via gettyimages

Oh no, things are not looking good for Keirrison at Palmeiras and veteran defender, Edmilson, thinks his “cold exit” is only making the situation worst. He also thinks that the Barcelona-bound striker should have at least said “goodbye” to everyone so as to not tarnish his reputation.

“When you go from one place to one another, you should leave the door open wide. I don’t know where (Keirrison) is now but if I were him, I’d say goodbye to the staff, the sound of the garden and everyone here at Palmeiras. At least that’s the way I’d do it. He should thank the people who helped him to succeed here and then leave the country,” said Ed.

Anyway, it appears that everything has been cleared up and Keirrison explained : “Everything has happened very fast and so far I have only been able to speak to two of my team-mates [Willians and Pierre] on the telephone, but I want to thank everyone for their support.”

Keirrison may look like one of those “Clinic Extras” in the legendary Mr Bean series, but cara doesn’t care OK? Negotiations are apparently ongoing for a move to Barcelona and Luxemburgo refuses to rule out K9′s move to Spain.

Anyway, the player recently visited his friends Alex and Henrique at Coritiba. “In 2006, I lived in Couto Pereira and walked around here all day dreaming of playing with the stadium full and everyone screaming my name. Thank God within a year, that happened,” said Keirrison.

On a random note, did you know his father named him Keirrison because he was inspired by Jim Morrison of The Doors?

One of Brazil’s most promising strikers, Keirrison, may very well become a Barça player next season! Not surprising as he’s been on the radar of some of the top European clubs all season. In this case, the deal will only go through if his representative, Marcos Malaquias, reaches an agreement with Laporta’s Men In Black.

However, Palmeiras must agree to let Keri go – a prospect which may be easier than expected. After all, Palmeiras fans have been unhappy with the striker, pointing accusatory fingers at him for the club’s failures after eliminations from the Paulista Championship and Copa Libertadores. Oh, they even nicknamed him Pipokeirrison!

If Keirrison goes to Europe, there’s a better chance of obtaining a spot in the highly competitive selecao. You know Dopey prefers hardworking, “Champions League” types and Keirrison will fit in well the Catalan giants.

It’s always nice to find out what the 02′ generation of Brazilian players are up to. In this case, Edmilson (who could ever forget him?) will be leaving Villarreal to play for Brazilian side Palmeiras.

“I am extremely happy. After ten years in Europe, I’m back to play in Brazil (and it’s) a serious and long-term project that Palmeiras has in mind. That made the difference (for me to) choose to return. Moreover, it will be a pleasure working with Vanderlei Luxembourg, whom I have deep respect (for)and is a successful coach,” said Edmilson.

Of course, Edmilson acknowledges the fact that he is no longer a young boy, but has set goals for himself next season.

“Of course I am no longer a boy of 20 years. But (I’m) not afraid to face this challenge. My goal is to win a Brazilian championship, a Libertadores, which I have not achieved yet and return to the Brazilian team. My plans are ambitious, as well as those of Palmeiras,” he admitted.

Returning to the Brazilian team? Hmmm.. we’re not so sure about that, Edmilson.

It feels like an entire decade has passed since we last heard about Denilson but the World Cup winner has been released by Palmeiras. The 31-year-old has expressed a desire to return to Europe after stints at FC Dallas and the Brazilian club.

“Football does not end with Palmeiras,” he told gazetasportiva.net. “I am going to continue playing. The decision was not mine, but the club’s. Palmeiras have the right to do what they did and I am not in pain or anything like that. I have a clean conscience as I did my job and I would return to the side if I have the chance.”

“I want to play in Europe, but I am not in a rush,” he said. “I have received proposals from England, Greece, Turkey and Germany. I am studying them.

“I understand that this is the time to return to European football, but if I am not convinced by any offer I hope to continue in Brazil, where there are also clubs interested in me.”