Sport stumbled for the third time in a row and could leave the group of the top four (G4), which gives access to Series A of the Brazilian Championship. This Sunday (10), Leão drew 1-1 with Chapecoense on Ilha do Retiro, in Recife, in the 36th round of Series B of the Brazilian Championship. The match was broadcast live on TV Brasil.
The red-and-black team, which was coming off two defeats, remains in fourth place, with 60 points, and could be overtaken by Ceará, which plays on Tuesday (12), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), against Botafogo- SP, at the Santa Cruz Stadium/Arena Nicnet, in Ribeirão Preto (SP). If Vozão wins, it will equal the score of the Pernambuco team, but will be ahead in terms of the number of victories (18 to 17).
Sport’s stumble was also celebrated by other rivals in the fight for access, such as Goiás (57 points) and Operário-PR (56 points). Esmeraldinos and Alvinegros won their duels against CRB and Novorizontino, respectively, last Saturday (9).
Chape, in turn, reached 41 points, opening a three-point lead over Ponte Preta, 17th place and first team in the relegation zone (Z4). The team from São Paulo, however, is still going to the field in the round. Macaca visits Vila Nova this Monday (11), at 6:30 pm, at the Onésio Brasileiro Alvarenga Stadium, in Goiânia.
Sport’s next appointment is against Ponte, next Saturday (16), at 9:30 pm, at Moisés Lucarelli Stadium, in Campinas (SP). The following day (17), Verdão do Oeste hosts Coritiba at Arena Condá, in Chapecó (SC), at 4pm.
Dominant in offensive actions since the beginning of the match, Sport opened the scoring in the first minute of the second half. Full-back Felipinho crossed from the left, goalkeeper Léo Vieira didn’t have the ball in the dispute with striker Chrystian Barletta and midfielder Julián Fernández, left behind, sent it into the net.
Leão continued to attack, but suffered a draw in one of Chape’s few attacks. At 38, midfielder Marlone received the ball at the edge of the area and rolled it to Perotti. The striker, who had entered the field three minutes earlier, appeared on the left and shot low, leaving everything the same. The home team pressed, but Verdão held on.
Mirassol vice-leader
Another G4 team that didn’t win in the round was Mirassol. Also this Sunday, the team from the interior of São Paulo ended 0-0 with Avaí at Ressacada, in Florianópolis.
The draw made Mirassol gain a position, overtaking rival Novorizontino and taking second place, with the same 63 points as Tigre do Vale, but ahead on goal difference (15 to 13). The team led by Mozart is two points behind Santos, first placed and who still play this Monday, at 9 pm, away from home, against Coritiba, at Couto Pereira. Avaí, with 47 points, appears in 12th place, free from relegation, but with no chance of access.
Next Friday (15), Mirassol will have a direct confrontation with Operário-PR at the Germano Krüger Stadium, in Ponta Grossa (PR), at 4pm. If Ceará loses on Tuesday, a draw is enough to guarantee access to the team from the interior of São Paulo. Avaí returns to the field the other Monday (18th), at 9pm, against Botafogo-SP, in Ribeirão Preto.
