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Brasileirão Week 26 Match Report: São Paulo 4 - 2 Vasco da Gama [Tue Sep 20th, 2005]
São Paulo have made it six wins on the trot, although Paulo Autuori’s men are still finding an offensive 4-4-2 difficult to digest, seeming to prefer the comfort blanket of a 3-5-2.
The main tremors occurred in defence, six yellow cards showing for last-resort tactical fouls and, once again, defensive midfield pit-bull Renan had to some on to tighten the rearguard up. Nevertheless, you can’t argue with a 4-2 win.
Barely five minutes into the game Cicinho, returning after seleção duties, made good on his Friday promise with a precise cross that Amoroso (5th min) skilfully headed in, despite a dubious offside start: 1-0. Fate was rolling fives as Christian (10th min) latched onto a Josué through ball, dribbled Roberto and tapped in the second.
The game steadied as Vasco tightened up and went hunting, causing the home team to shrink back, marksman Alex Dias narrowing the advantage as his sharp cross met Abedi and the scoreboard in quick succession: 2-1.
Amoroso got his brace and São Paulo’s third six minutes from the break. The 31 year-old veteran had to call it a day as he felt a groin strain and went off to rapturous applause.
The break saw both teams cool their ardour, and the game appeared a lukewarm version of the first half. Edcarlos livened things up by an attempted strangulation of Alex Dias (53rd min), and ref Heber Roberto Lopes pointed to the spot. Rogério Ceni was given a taste of his own medicine as the striker put the ball away with paint stripped off the right post: 3-2.
São Paulo lunged forward to recover lost ground, and clumsy Vasco defender Alemão knocked Souza over to give Rogério his first spot-kick of the night. In a rare lapse the specialist hit the cross bar and watched his shot sail over.
Diego Tardelli, offside, had his strike disallowed but in extra time Diego (the Vasco one) sent Souza tumbling again and went for an early bath. This time Rogerio Ceni was true to form, netting the definitive 4-2.
Venue: Morumbi Stadium, São Paulo (SP)
Referee: Heber Roberto Lopes (FIFA-PR)
Linesmen: Roberto Braatz (PR) and José Amilton (PR).
Goals:
SÃO PAULO: Amoroso (5th min & 39th min), Christian (10th min), Rogério Ceni (89th min)
VASCO: Abedi (35th min), Alex Dias (54th min)
Yellow Cards: Josué, Cicinho, Souza, Mineiro, Edcarlos and Lugano (São Paulo); Diego and Amaral (Vasco).
Red Card: Diego (Vasco)
Gate: R$220,148
Spectators: 15,417
SÃO PAULO: Rogério Ceni; Cicinho, Lugano, Edcarlos and Júnior; Josué, Mineiro, Souza and Danilo (Renan); Amoroso (Tardelli) and Christian (Leandro Bomfim).
Coach: Paulo Autuori.
VASCO: Roberto; Vergara, Alemão and Ygor; Claudemir, Osmar (Elber), Amaral (Marco Brito), Abedi (Róbson Luiz), Morais and Diego; Alex Dias.
Coach: Renato Gaúcho.
Aaron Marcus
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