I came because it involved a hiring controversy and wanted the fan to know that the responsibility is mine. I approved this contract.

Obina doesn’t score any goal for 17 matches. He was much criticized by Flamengo’s fans but around a year ago the same crowd support him saying that “Obina is better than Eto’o”.

I always thank to Flamengo for everything that happened to me there and that’s why I’m here today. I thank them, but now I wear Palmeiras’ shirt of body and soul. I’ll start a new life and it’ll be very important to me.

Obina has already registered in Libertadores Cup, he’s gonna use #24 that it was used by Evandro (finally he went away) purchased by Atlético Mineiro.

The teams started the match the way their fans are accustomed: with speed. Santos FC, with Neymar, Madson and Pará and accurate passes from Paulo Henrique, while Verdão supported in the inspiration of Diego Souza and invested in Keirrison and Ortigoza.

With fast players, quick goals. Keirrison once did at 8′ to increase their numbers against Santos FC, which scored at 18′ in the beautiful Kléber Pereira’s shot.

After the goal, more run in the field, with Peixe a little more objective, but we weren’t in advantage again ‘cos two wasted chances from Keirrison.

Faster than that it was the 2nd goal from Santos: in the first minute of the 2nd half. Neymar received outside the area and shot in the Counterbalance of Marcos, who was not on the ball.

From there the game has changed. Keep an eye on the advantage, Sardinhas (for us) tried to defend themselves, while we were to attack with everything. Then came Fábio Costa, who made four saves and held the advantage. (congratulations to him)

Santos FC also attempted to counter-attack after 75′ and almost increased with Robson and Roberto Brum. Palmeiras has been closely to equalise the match with Danilo’s headed, but couldn’t move on the scoreboard.
Source: LanceNet

But the 2nd leg will be play in the next Saturday in our home. We just need a simple victory. So I’m still believe in the qualification to the Final.

HIGHLGHTS

SANTOS FC 2 v. 1 SE PALMEIRAS
Santos: F. Costa; Pará, Fabão, Astorga, Triguinho; R. Brum, R. Souto, P. Henrique (Róbson 77’); Madson (Roni 84′), Neymar (Germano, 66’) and K. Pereira.
Coach: V. Mancini
Booked: Pará, Fabão, Astorga, R. Souto, Roni and Róbson

Palmeiras: Marcos, F. Capixaba (Lenny 69’), M. Ramos, Danilo and Armero; Pierre, Edmílson (S. Silva, half-time), C. Xavier and D. Souza; Ortigoza (Marquinhos, half-time) and Keirrison.
Coach: Vanderlei Luxemburgo
Booked: C. Xavier, Pierre, Ortigoza, Marquinhos and S. Silva

Venue: Vila Belmiro
Attendance: 17,772
Referee: Wilson Seneme (FIFA)

So from now on I’ll just post about Libertadores and important matches ’till I organize my schedule.

Now the exciting match between Sport CR v. SE Palmeiras at Ilha do Retiro Stadium.

Palmeiras focused on defense even the strikers. Luxemburgo “played” like Luxemburgo, in other words, the best coach of Brazil. He took off Edmílson as sweeper and put him as defensive midfielder with a order: to force in the midfield and induce the Sport players to mistake.

But at 16′ Moacir shot the ball deflected and left for the fast attacker Vandinho. Thanks to Marcos – who was playing his 50th appearance in Libertadores – saved it.

Even with the scare, Palmeiras has not changed its stance. That was the key to opening the score. At 24′ Cleiton Xavier free kicked the ball in the area, Diego Souza headed it, the defender Mauricio Ramos got the rebound with a volleyball and sent to the goal. Keirrison up on the line, only had to put it in the back of the net.

Nelsinho Baptista, then unbeaten in charge of Sport in the season, tried to change the team in the second half to put Luciano Henrique and Sandro Goiano. But Palmeiras has the answer with a nice move of Diego Souza. At 49′, he got the ball near the middle, went through the whole defense and invaded the area. At the kick, Magrão jumped on the ball and defended it.

But the golden key was Diego Souza, the big player of the game. At 73′, he dribbled by two players, and also the goalkeeper Magrão. A spectacular goal. He saw the stadium mute before his feet.

HIGHLIGHTS

SPORT CR 0 v. 2 SE PALMEIRAS
Sport: Magrão; Igor, César and Durval; Moacir (L. Henrique), Andrade, D. Paulista (S. Goiano), P. Baier e Dutra; Ciro and Vandinho (Weldon).
Coach: N. Baptista
Booked: Ciro and Vandinho

Palmeiras: Marcos; F. Capixaba, Danilo, M. Ramos (Marcão) and Armero; Pierre, Edmílson, C. Xavier and D. Souza; Willians (Ortigoza) and Keirrison (S. Silva).
Coach: V. Luxemburgo
Booked: F. Capixaba, Danilo, M. Ramos, Edmílson and Ortigoza

Venue: Ilha do Retiro stadium, Recife
Attendance: unrevealed
Referee: Carlos Torres (Paraguay)

In the 1st half at 43′, Lucas Barrios (according to IFFHS, the last year’s topscorer of the world with 37 goals) dribble Maurício Ramos and Danilo with extreme easiness and shot in the opposite side of Bruno.

The Chilean goal moved with the team and fans, which in every unsuccessful pass or shot irritates itself. At the exit for halftime, they mostly shouting against Marcão (player come from SC Internacional), who came to the function of left wing, but rather helped the team.

In an attempt to make the team more offensive, Luxemburgo put Marcão and Maurício Ramos off and as replacement put Jefferson and Jumar on. Meléndez was sent off by a 2nd yellow card, but 5 minutes later a new defensive error, Torres took a cross into the area and scored 0-2 to El Cacique.

In the stand started to create an animosity towards the team. In a good cross of Cleiton Xavier, Keirrison finally appeared in the match at 70′ headed to score 1-2, and instead of catch the ball to restart the game, no, he prefered to shout against the crowd, can you believe that?!?!

And when the team seemed closer to the draw, Colo Colo managed to enlarge the score. In a counter-attack González was free to receive and make 1-3, complicating the alviverde situation in continental competition. And so that some fans, at 79′ start to leave the Palestra Itália.

And the defeat comes on the eve of Grand Derby against Corinthians.

“HIGHLIGHTS”

SE PALMEIRAS 1 v. 3 CSD Colo Colo
Palmeiras: Bruno, F. Capixaba (Lenny), M. Ramos (Jumar), Danilo and Marcão (Jefferson); Pierre, Edmílson, C. Xavier, D. Souza; Willians and Keirrison.
Coach: V. Luxemburgo
Booked: M. Ramos

Colo Colo: Muñoz; Figueroa, Mena, Riffo and Salcedo; Meléndez, Sanhueza, Millar and Torres (Opazo); Barrios (González) and Carranza (Caroca).
Coach: M. Barticciotto
Booked: Mena, Meléndez and Riffo
Red Card: Meléndez

Venue: Palestra Italia Stadium
Referee: Sergio Pezzota – Argentina
Attendance: 23,285

5 minutes later we got better and equalised the match, Diego Souza kicked and Cevallos gave rebound and Willans put it in the back of the net. But we didn’t count with a mistake of two world champions, Edmílson tried to protect the ball to Marcos catch it and both didn’t spoke same language, Wálter Calderón once again scored at 34′.

After halftime, Luxemburgo put on Marquinhos to replace Maurício Ramos, in this way, Palmeiras changed 3-5-2 to 4-4-2. At 46′ we equalised again with Edmílson.

But at 57′ Argentinean Manso free-kicked and scored.

After 9 matches unbeaten between Paulistão and Libertadores Cup qualifying round we lost. But it’s normal now we have to raise our heads and carry on.

LDU 3 v. 2 SE PALMEIRAS
Referee: Wilmar Roldán (Colombia).
Venue: Casa Blanca, Quito
Attendance: unrevealed

LDU: Cevallos; Campos, Araujo, Calle and Reasco; Urrutia (Larrea), W. Araujo, Ambrossi (D. Calderón) and Manso; Bieler and W. Calderón (Obregón).
Coach: Jorge Fossati.
Booked: Ambrossi and Larrea

Palmeiras: Marcos; M. Ramos (Marquinhos), Edmílson and Danilo; F. Capixaba (Evandro), Pierre, C. Xavier, D. Souza and Armero; Willans (Lenny) and Keirrison.
Coach: Vanderlei Luxemburgo.
Booked: Pierre, Maurício Ramos, Armero and Danilo

HIGHLIGHTS

Our goal is rival with Corinthians, São Paulo and Santos. If i said that i don’t wanna smash them, in the field, i couldn’t be Palmeiras’ chairman.

Second of all Edmílson and Armero made their debut for the club and play very well. With Edmílson and Armero in the Palmeiras’ defense there’s no mistakes.

And third of all Palmeiras won its 3rd match, after has beated Santo André and Mogi Mirim [with 2 Keirrison's goals, maybe future Atlético Madrid's striker (tsc.)], yesterday it was the time of Marília AC has beated by 3-0 [Evandro, Cleiton Xavier and Lenny (hallelujah)]

He return after almost 1 decade in Europe and 47 appearances in Brazilian National Team.

I’m extremely happy. After almost 10 years in Europe, i accepted to come back to Brazil by serious and long-term project that Palmeiras has in mind. This made the difference. Beyond that it’s gonna be a pleasure to work with Vanderlei Luxemburgo who i have deep respect and is a winning coach.

I had a very bad month, I haven’t been called for matches and I’m not injured. My agent is talking to Villarreal’s directorship. I don’t wanna be a problem for either the club or the coach, nor to anyone.

Maybe he becomes the experienced player beyond Marcos in the palmeirense squad for Libertadores Cup. Edmílson plays in Europe since 2000, passing by Olympique Lyonnais and FC Barcelona, winning 5 national leagues [3 French Leagues (01/02, 02/03, 03/04) and 2 Spanish Leagues (04/05, 05/06)], 4 national supercups [3 French Supercups (2002, 2003, 2004) and 1 Spanish Supercup (2005)], 1 Champions League with Barça in 2005/06 and 1 World Cup in 2002.

Although, it’s not still ok his career in SE Palmeiras

*Kléber
The palestrinos managers is waiting just a official answer from Kyiv. Since few Italians investors undertake this business and make a deposit in an account of Ukrainian club to purchase Kléber and to put him in Palmeiras on loan for a year.

Giuseppe Dioguardi, Kléber’s agent

I talked to Dynamo’s crew today (Friday) and they told me that money doesn’t came yet.

*Brandão
Palmeiras is competing with Olympique Marseille, the point pro Palmeiras is the fact that him wanna come back to Brazil to live with his family after 6 European years. It’s all settled between player and club. Brandão is only waiting a liberation from Shakhtar.

And for last but not for least
*Keirrison
He has contract with Coritiba EC until April but Palmeiras wanna join him since the beginning of the year. So Gilberto Cipullo (vice-president) goes to Curitiba to negotiate once more.

Palmeiras started bad Atlético had been better but when Marques was sent off for putting hand on ball, Verdão grew in the match. Thank God the last year’s story didn’t happen again when Palmeiras needed to win Atlético at home to reach the Libertadores Cup but lost to 1-3.

Even Atlético playing with 3 defensive midfielders Palmeiras attacked with extreme easiness.

Despite Atlético had been restrained they opened the scoreboard with Renan Oliveira after Maurício missed his 1st touch let him down. After 6 matches without goal against. But Leandro (Palestra’s waiter) saved us in his 100th match by Palmeiras after Alex Mineiro passed to him.

I made a mistake and accept the responsibility. I didn’t see when Marques came and I lost the ball control into penalty area that followed Atlético’s goal.

Maurício about Atlético’s goal

In 2nd half Luxemburgo put on Léo Lima and Pierre. The reaction happened and Léo Lima had 2 goal attempts. Then Luxa put off Élder Granja and put on Denílson who was inspired that scored 3rd goal.

Now Palmeiras is gonna face Figueirense FC in Florianópolis.

HIGHLIGHTS

SE PALMEIRAS 3 v. 1 C ATLÉTICO MINEIRO

Palmeiras: Marcos, Maurício, Gustavo and Martinez (L. Lima); E. Granja (Denílson), Pierre (Evandro), S. Silva, D. Souza and Leandro; Kléber and A. Mineiro.
Coach: V. Luxemburgo
Booked: A. Mineiro
Goals: Leandro 43′, A. Mineiro 62′ and Denílson 78′

Atlético: Juninho, C. Prates, Sheslon, Marcos and L. Almeida; Serginho, M. Araújo, Elton (Denilson) and R. Oliveira; Marques and Jael (Castillo).
Coach: M. Oliveira
Booked: Sheslon and Marques
Red card: Marques
Goal: R. Oliveira 31′

Venue: Palestra Itália stadium
Referee: Elmo Cunha (GO)
Attendance: 25,400