São Paulo coming off with two draws - an unimpressive 0-0 with Internacional and a controversially nullified goal (VAR), while with Corinthians, the Itaquera team was behind twice before the 2-2 draw. SPFC still unbeaten with Zubeldía, although I would rather see wins - not empates.
I'm glad he got a red. But in Brazil people are going to say it's unfair if all he did was complain... as if his complaining alone didn't cross a line. Can't wait to see them try the Euro approach of only the captain can talk to the ref... (well, wouldn't slow Hulk down since he's the captain).
Honestly I don't know why he got the 1st yellow. Hulk said all he did after the 1st yellow was to ask why he got the 1st. I assumed he said something bad but after the 1st he did get in the refs face and he was already complaining since the beginning of the match. On the surface it definitely seems unfair ... but Hulk is still insufferable.
Que golaço do Estêvão!Atlético/MG 0x3 Palmeiras https://t.co/B09T16MySL— Pedro Marques (@PedroMarques21) June 18, 2024
Yeah. The 1st yellow is for his reaction to what he thought was a foul against him. Might have said something quick as he got up and didn't realize the ref whistled the foul for him. Or maybe Hulk was complaining that it took that long for the ref to call the foul. The 2nd is for getting right up on his face even if he might have not insulted the ref there which is intimidation. I actually never understood how players often got away with getting right up to the refs face and not get a yellow.
Flamengo just got a last minute win over Bahia. Going back to the weekend, Flamengo outplayed Athletico buy needed a late winner to earn a tie. Athletico had only themselves to blame after a lot of cera made the ref extend the added minutes. Today, at least for the first half which I watched, Flamengo were outplayed by Bahia, but got the first goal. Bahia tied in the first half and I didn't get to watch the second half. Near the end of the match I was back and able to watch, but I put on Argentina x Canada briefly. As the Flamengo match was ending I decided to switch over and said to myself, maybe I'll catch a last minute winner. As soon as I switched to Flamengo x Bahia the free kick was taken and David Luiz headed it in for the winner! Bahia are a really solid team, and apparently Citi Group have decided that they will make a push for the title if they are in the top 5 when the transfer window opens. Big win for Flamengo during this Copa America period against a possible contender and definite future contender.
Damn this would have been a nice goal ... MEU DEUS ESTEVÃO!🎥 Premiere#CriasDaAcademia pic.twitter.com/tELuMTGLgN— Crias da Academia (@CriasDaAcademia) June 21, 2024
He had to finish that... He's getting me lots of Cartola points just on his attempted shots. But put a couple in the net too!
Bragantino were dangerous and could have scored a couple ... but after we scored the goal, we should have scored 3 or 4. Some really great plays but incredible chokes in front of the goal. I am gonna go nuts if this game ends in a draw. As I write this .... VAI TOMAR NO CÚ RONY ...
Flamengo beat Fluminense 1x0 with a 86th minute penalty. I watched mostly the first half and Flamengo missed some chances they really should have put away. Pressuring Fluminense's defense would pay off, often right next to the goal, and Flamengo would somehow not score on those plays. Still, at the end of the day it's a win. Flamengo remain in first, with most of their desfalques about to play Copa America (Uruguay play today). So far, better than "so good". And Fluminense remain at the bottom. However, since it wasn't a blowout, maybe Diniz is safe this week. You never know, in Brazil.
I am getting annoyed by these last minute heroics. I thought we were going to sleep on top of the table ... We beat Juventude today. Estevão was better contained by Juventude, but still delivered a good performance and scored the 2nd go ahead goal. He hit the post on another shot off a volley. Excited about his potential. He is so quick and intelligent. Brings the ball down with ease.
What's going on with São Paulo ? @Century's Best ? Winless in the past 4 matches and losses to Cuiaba and a thrashing from Vasco. A bit of an unexpected turn of events given how well Zubeldia started.
Well, in the end he wasn't safe. Diniz has been fired by Fluminense today. He is already being speculated at CAP as Cuca left, unexpectedly, after another game giving up a late goal.
It seems like after Endrick left, the team got a lot better. And I mean a lot. I haven't seen the team play like this consistently (4 matches in a row) in a long time. Probably since mid last season. I think the main reason is the formation. Veiga wasn't doing well because fitting Endrick into the team, meant pushing Veiga back a bit and he is at his best when he steps into the box to get onto pass backs from the corner. He is not a true meia armador. Estevão gives Abel the winger he needs to play more of a 4-3-3 formation as opposed to having Endrick roam in the right mid position. Arthur last season played that role and did OK in the beginning but he is nowhere as dangerous as Estevão is. It will be interesting to see how Felipe Anderson fits in. I am guessing Veiga will have his spot challenged. He might be on his way out soon as well. And then we will have to see about Mauricio. But he can be worked in with time while I expect Felipe to make more of an instant impact. Dudu subbed in yesterday and he looked pretty off form. It will be a while for him to get back to form IMO.
I was more surprised than you re: Vasco. I hope it's a temporary funk. Luis Zubeldía is largely responsible for SPFC having been in the top 4 of the Campeonato Brasileiro. If the team rebounds, Zubeldía will play a role in that as well.
I feel bad for Fluminense fans, but their team has been in a terrible funk. I wonder where the fluid play from 2023 has gone. And who will replace Diniz? If the Libertadores round of 16 began today, Grêmio would probably be the likelier to advance. And yet, notably, they are both in the zona de rebaixamento.