The match against Barueri was boring for my side, of course, Barueri still had a chance to qualify but it needed for other results like defeats of Ponte Preta and Corinthians. Corinthians lost (is not a surprise) to Noroeste at Bauru but Ponte Preta got a draw at Santos.

We got 10th straight wins currently Verdão has the biggest invincibility in Brazil already are 14 undefeated games.

Even Barueri started better in the match still dreaming to be in the semi-finals. They kept possession ball in a 1st half. Palmeiras had few good moments.

At 8′ after a free-kick Léo Lima crossed the ball Henrique touched it and Diego Souza headed it requiring a great René’s save.

At 14′ Denílson made a good shot right over the crossbar.

At 21′ Márcio Careca (former Palmeiras’ player) shot and Marcos put it to corner-kick.

At 42′ after Denílson has made a nice play he crossed right in Diego Souza’s head but René didn’t allow the goal.

2nd Half Palmeiras woke up with Luxemburgo’s orientation

At 48′ Martinez crossed and Jorge Preá headed in left-hand of goal but René inspired by Gordon Banks didn’t let the ball in. But in corner-kick Diego Souza back-heeled the ball to Léo Lima who shot in right-hand of the goal.

But the match was damaged by the weak referee Guilherme de Lima. He marked 2 penalties one for each side, the 1st one at 49′ Fernando dived into the area and besides penalty-kick he gave a yellow card to Léo Lima but São Marcos saved the penalty-kick. The 2nd one Diego disputed the ball with Alex Mineiro, no foul, but to compensate the “referee” gave us a penalty-kick, himself scored it.

At 90′ in a dead-ball situation Élder Granja crossed and Diego Souza headed indefensibly scoring 3rd goal.

HIGHLIGHTS

GR BARUERI 0 vs. 3 SE PALMEIRAS
Barueri
Renê;
M Pimentel, Duílio, Diego n’ M Careca;
M Carrasco, R Ponte, Flávio (Guaru) n’ J César(R Santos);
T Humberto n’ A Balada (Fernando)
Coach: M Araújo

Palmeiras
Marcos;
E Granja, Gustavo, Henrique n’ Leandro;
Martinez, L Lima (Wendel), D Souza n’ Denílson (Lenny)
A Mineiro n’ J Preá (Makelele)
Coach: V. Luxemburgo

Venue: Barueri Arena
Referee: Guilherme de Lima
Attendance: unrevealed

Palmeiras played very well over two sides with Élder Granja e Leandro switched play all time. The team suffered a bit of pressure from Central in the beginning of the game around 10′-15′ with Leonardo and Cláudio but after that Verdão showed them a good spectacle.

Luxemburgo changed the starting line-up, he put Denílson beside Kléber instead of our topscorer Alex Mineiro. We gained velocity but we lost the reference in the middle of the penalty area.

Leandro on a counter-attack by right-hand controlled the ball until the penalty area when shot it hit the post and Kléber with a clinical finish put 0-1 on the scoreboard at 18′.

At 42′ in a dead-ball situation Élder Granja put it in the Valdívia’s head and goal! His 8th goal in this season. Valdívia show us who also is a great header.

At 56′ in a unpretentious corner-kick Williams crossed hit Léo Lima and entered in the goal but referee gave the goal to Williams from Central.

Central motivate itself crossed a lot of balls but it can’t equalised.

At 80′ Martinez in a perfect free-kick did it one more. Remembering Martinez entered in Diego Souza’s position who didn’t anything.

Before end of match Martinez and Valdívia suffered 2 penalties that Alex Mineiro shot and did it both, one at 85′ and other at 88′, this last one Humberto was sent off for receiving the 2nd yellow card.

Now we wait for Sport Recife or Brasiliense 1st leg was 1-2 for Sport at Brasília.

HIGHLIGHTS

CENTRAL 1 v. 5 SE PALMEIRAS
Central
Davi;
Celso, Bebeto, Humberto n’ Vital;
Williams, Moacir, Doda (J Neto – 82′) n’ E Chiquita (Alanzinho – 77′);
Leonardo (Marcos – 90′) n’ Cláudio.
Coach: M Vilar (former Palmeiras’ coach)

Palmeiras
Marcos;
E Granja, Henrique, Gustavo n’ Leandro;
Pierre, L Lima, Valdívia n’ D Souza (Martinez – 70′);
Kléber (J Preá – 78′) n’ Denílson (A Mineiro – 70′).
Coach: V Luxemburgo

Venue: Luiz José Lacerda stadium
Referee: Edílson da Mata from Mato Grosso
Attendance: unrevealed

Then Luxemburgo showed us why is he the best coach of Brazil. Made a substitution off Wendel on Lenny who ran the defence ragged.

Léo Lima gave a wonderful pass to Alex Mineiro just put it in the back of the net at 34′ Léo found him in the middle of the defence. He’s our topscorer with 8 goals.

In the beginning of the 2nd half started raining and the pitch was very wet complicating to the players.

Luxa made another substitution off Denílson on Martinez looking for improving the pass to attackers.

Léo again gave a pass to goal but in this time was to Kléber who scored his 1st goal dressed as Palestrino he rid himself of 2 defenders and put it in the back of the net at 66′.

At 77′ in a dead-ball situation Vicente now prepared better his kick and hit the woodwork.

Then we just needed keep ball possession.

HIGHLIGHTS

SE PALMEIRAS 2 vs. 1 AA PONTE PRETA
Palmeiras
…………..Diego Cavalieri…………….
E Granja..Gustavo..Henrique..Leandro
………..Pierre…………Wendel………
……..Léo Lima…….Denílson…………
……….Kléber………Alex Mineiro…….
Coach: Vanderlei Luxemburgo

Subs.: Lenny (Wendel), Martinez (Denílson), Makelele (Kléber)

Ponte Preta
………………….Aranha………………………
…………César……Jean…..João Paulo………
E Arroz..R Conceição..Bilica..Renato..Vicente
…………….Elias…………Luís Ricardo……….
Coach: Sérgio Guedes

Subs: Raulen (E Arroz), Renan (Bilica), Vanderlei (Renato)

Venue: Palestra Itália stadium
Referee: Luiz de Oliveira
Attendance: 13.396