Brasileirão: Grêmio hold Fluminense to thrilling draw

Fluminense and Grêmio played out a thrilling 2-2 draw at a bustling Engenhão on Wednesday evening to keep both sides’ dreams for the season alive. Grêmio, who were reduced to ten men in the second-half, but still hung on to the league leaders to claim a late equalising goal through veteran midfielder Zé Roberto after […]
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sambafoot_admin
2012-10-18 04:55:00

Fluminense and Grêmio played out a thrilling 2-2 draw at a bustling Engenhão on Wednesday evening to keep both sides’ dreams for the season alive.

Grêmio, who were reduced to ten men in the second-half, but still hung on to the league leaders to claim a late equalising goal through veteran midfielder Zé Roberto after Fluminense had struck back from initially falling behind with two goals in five minutes.

A 35,000 strong crowd were treated to a treat as, despite a competitive but goalless first-half, the game burst to life after the break as the two high-flying sides went all-out for the result.

In the 54th minute, it was the visitors who opened the scoring through crafty midfielder Elano – one of the league’s most renowned set-piece takers. Presented with a free-kick on the edge of the area, the former Manchester City midfielder repeated the trick of Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho to guide the ball under the wall and past a helpless Diego Cavalieri.

The Tricolor Carioca, though, were not to take going behind lightly and, within eight minutes of conceding the opening goal, they were ahead in the encounter. First, centre-back Digão showed striker’s instinct to volley home a corner from the left to level the scores, before Rafael Sobis struck a stunning effort with his left-foot from 25 yards to beat Marcelo Grohe all ends up.

Grêmio manager Vanderlei Luxemburgo turned to Bolivian striker Marcelo Moreno in an attempt to turn the game around, but would find himself sorely let down by his forward. Moreno, who had entered the pitch a matter of seconds earlier, was dismissed for striking opposite number Sobis and was shown a justified red-card by referee Sandro Meira Ricci.

With just five minutes left on the clock, though, Grêmio were to grab themselves a deserved equaliser through Zé Roberto, with the veteran on-hand to turn home a loose ball after a set-piece delivered into the area. The points were split, but both sides will be delighted to emerge unscathed from a difficult encounter.

FLUMINENSE: Diego Cavalieri; Bruno, Gum, Digão, Carlinhos; Edinho, Jean; Wágner (Thiago Neves 46′), Deco, Rafael Sobis (Marcos Júnior 79′); Fred. Coach: Abel Braga.

GRÊMIO: Marcelo Grohe; Pará, Werley, Gilberto Silva, Anderson Pico; Fernando (Marquinhos 63′), Marco Antônio, Elano (Léo Gago 72′), Zé Roberto; Leandro (Marcelo Moreno 63′), Kleber. Coach: Vanderlei Luxemburgo.