Espírito Santo, São Paulo, Rio Grande and Maranhão to fight for a place in the final

The semifinals of the XIV Brazilian Championship were defined after a new thrilling and contested matchday. Rio Grande do Norte and Espírito Santo will face in the first knock-out to the final after their tight victories over Bahía and current champions Rio de Janeiro, respectively. São Paulo and Maranhão, with more emphatic wins, will fight for the second ticket.

Bahía and Rio Grande do Norte opened this quarterfinals round, and this first knock-out fixture ended up with the potiguar side closing the door for the bahianos for an oportunity to fight for their third consecutive final. The doublets by star Andre and bomber goalkeeper Alessandro, together with Dunga’s hit, made Anderson and Souza’s efforts insufficient for the pass.

Two of the Brazilian and World’s best players, Benjamin and Buru, faced each other in the second match of the quarterfinals, between Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo. It was to be a tough test for the carioca , current champions and with three titles on their record, since extremely competitive Espírito Santo, were set to reach the final to add the third cup to their tally after a nine-year drought. So it was, that the capibaixas sent Rio de Janeiro home, thanks to the goals by Bruno Malias (2), Duda and Buru. Benjamin, with two more goals, and Juninho, proved the fluminense industry, but it was not enough yesterday.

The third quarterfinal clash was not that leveled. Maranhão quickly built a good advantage, and that allowed them to control the match, not letting Distrito Federal any close. The hits by DDI (3), Lico, (2), goalie Sales Jr. and Pampero were a too heavy load for the capital city squad.

In turn, São Paulo restated their candidacy to the crown after a new emphatic win against Pernambuco. A new magic and powder display by the host side, with Portuguese star Madjer -2 more goals- ahead, gave no chance to the competitive pernambucano side. The Paulistas, then, keep strong on their way to their sixth championship, although it is not going to be a bed of roses, though. For their next step, Maranhão awaits in the semifinals.   

Results and group tables

Matchday 1 – November 13th

Maranhão 8-2 Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul 3-2  Ceará

São Paulo 8-1 Distrito Federal

Bahía 5-2 Paraíba

Pernambuco 3-2 Sergipe

Espírito Santo 6-3 Goiás

Matchday 2 – November 14th

Rio Grande do Norte 8-2 Alagoas

Sergipe 2-3 Maranhão

Rio de Janeiro 6-4 Tocantins

Distrito Federal 5-4 Rio Grande do Sul

Paraná 4-8 Pernambuco

Ceará 3-4 São Paulo

Matchday 3 – November 15th

Goiás 4-6 Bahía

Tocantins 6-4 Rio Grande do Norte

Paraíba 3-8 Espírito Santo

Paraná 3-6 Sergipe

Alagoas 0-5 Rio de Janeiro

Pernambuco 2-3 Maranhão

Matchday 4 – November 16th

Ceará 7-6 Distrito Federal

Paraíba 2-3 Goiás

Sao Paulo 5-2 Rio Grande do Sul

Alagoas 4-3 Tocantins

Espírito Santo 3-4 Bahía

Rio de Janeiro 4-4 (4-5) Rio Grande do Norte

Matchday 5 – November 17th

Second round (teams not qualified for the quarterfinals)

Ceará 7-3 Paraíba

Rio Grande do Sul 3-4 Goiás

Tocantins 5-7 Paraná

Alagoas 5-3 Sergipe

Matchday 6 – November 18th

Quarterfinals

Bahía 3-5 Rio Grande do Norte

Rio de Janeiro 3-4 Espírito Santo

Maranhão 7-1 Distrito Federal

São Paulo 6-0 Pernambuco

Paraíbas 6-5 Tocantins (match for the 15^th place)

Rio Grande do Sul 4-5 Sergipe (match for the 11^th place)

Matchday 7 – November 19th

Semifinals

Rio Grande do Norte – Espírito Santo

São Paulo – Maranhão  

Pernambuco – Distrito Federal (play-off for the 5th place)

Bahía – Río de Janeiro (play-off for the 5th place)

Goiás – Alagoas (match for the 9^th place)

Ceará – Paraná (match for the 13^th place)

Matchday 8 – November 20th

Final

Matches for the 3^rd, 5^th and 7^th place)