Campeonato Paulista wrap: Palmeiras move equal top

Palmeiras joined Campeonato Paulista leaders Santos on 10 points after beating Paulista 3-1 on Thursday.

Former Roma and Real Betis midfielder Marcos Assuncao put hosts Palmeiras 1-0 up 18 minutes into the match at the Estadio do Pacaembu.

A groin injury forced influential veteran Assuncao off in the 41st minute, but Palmeiras continued to dictate terms, with front-man Kleber making it 2-0 just a minute later.

Paulista coach Fernando Diniz withdrew ineffectual forward Barboza and replaced him with Carlao at half-time.

The switch paid dividends as the visitors enjoyed the better of the second half.

They pressed for a breakthrough and it eventually came in the 81st minute, when centre-back Mauricio Ramos conceded an own goal.

But a second and equalising goal proved beyond them and substitute Patrick struck in the 90th minute to make it 3-1 and seal the points for Palmeiras.

Led by Brazil’s 2002 World Cup-winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, Palmeiras are level with leaders Santos, but remain second on the table on goal difference.

Paulista are fifth, three points behind the top two.

Elsewhere, strugglers Gremio Prudente and Botafogo are still without their first wins of the campaign after playing out a 1-1 draw.

Visitors Botafogo led through midfielder Paulinho’s goal in the 28th minute at the Arena Barueri, but centre-forward Marcos Antonelli Romulo – on as a substitute – levelled for the hosts just before the hour mark.

The draw means Gremio have their first point of the season and climb off the foot of the table into 19th.

Botafogo, just two places better off in 17th, have three points from four matches played.

Fri 28 January, 2011

Campeonato Paulista wrap: Palmeiras move equal top

Palmeiras joined Campeonato Paulista leaders Santos on 10 points after beating Paulista 3-1 on Thursday.

Former Roma and Real Betis midfielder Marcos Assuncao put hosts Palmeiras 1-0 up 18 minutes into the match at the Estadio do Pacaembu.

A groin injury forced influential veteran Assuncao off in the 41st minute, but Palmeiras continued to dictate terms, with front-man Kleber making it 2-0 just a minute later.

Paulista coach Fernando Diniz withdrew ineffectual forward Barboza and replaced him with Carlao at half-time.

The switch paid dividends as the visitors enjoyed the better of the second half.

They pressed for a breakthrough and it eventually came in the 81st minute, when centre-back Mauricio Ramos conceded an own goal.

But a second and equalising goal proved beyond them and substitute Patrick struck in the 90th minute to make it 3-1 and seal the points for Palmeiras.

Led by Brazil’s 2002 World Cup-winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, Palmeiras are level with leaders Santos, but remain second on the table on goal difference.

Paulista are fifth, three points behind the top two.

Elsewhere, strugglers Gremio Prudente and Botafogo are still without their first wins of the campaign after playing out a 1-1 draw.

Visitors Botafogo led through midfielder Paulinho’s goal in the 28th minute at the Arena Barueri, but centre-forward Marcos Antonelli Romulo – on as a substitute – levelled for the hosts just before the hour mark.

The draw means Gremio have their first point of the season and climb off the foot of the table into 19th.

Botafogo, just two places better off in 17th, have three points from four matches played.

Fri 28 January, 2011

A-League wrap: Mariners go equal top on points

The Central Coast Mariners moved to second on the A-League ladder with a 2-0 win over the Newcastle Jets on Sunday.

A 14th minute poacher’s goal from Matt Simon gave the Mariners an early lead in front of a season-best Newcastle crowd of 13,467 before substitute John Hutchinson sealed the win three minutes before full-time.

The win moves the Mariners to 43 points on the table, equal with Adelaide United but ahead on goal difference with the Central Coast side having a game in hand over the South Australians.

The Jets hold onto sixth despite the loss but will have to regroup with an undermanned squad when they travel to Queensland to play the Gold Coast next Saturday.

The Jets went into the clash with a host of senior players on the injury list and they were dealt an early blow when skipper Kasey Wehrman hobbled off the ground with an ankle injury.

With the Jets in a sense of disarray the Mariners took advantage scoring an early opening goal.

An Oliver Bozanic Jets long ball looked like being easily dealt with by Jets defender Nikolai Topor-Stanley but he didn’t get enough on his back pass to keeper Ben Kennedy and Simon pounced on the loss ball to slot it into the corner of the net from 15 yards.

Simon should have grabbed his second in the 77th minute when he was one-on-one with Kennedy but the Jets glovesman got down low to effect a strong reflex save.

The visitors eventually put the game beyond doubt when McClinchey squared to Hutchinson on the edge of the box and the Mariners favourite slotted a right-footed shot inside the far post.

Sun 16 January, 2011