Grêmio Routes Veranópolis in Season Opener

The season couldn't have gotten off to a better start. Playing for the first time since its dramatic win over Nautico, Grêmio routed Veranópolis 4-1 at Antônio David Farina Stadium to take an early lead in Group 2 of the Gaúcho State Championship. More importantly, several of the new players signed to the team had an immediate impact with Ramón, Tcheco and Maidana each scoring a goal. Grêmio returns to action on Sunday when it faces Santa Cruz in another Group 2 matchup.

In contrast to what the final score would indicate, the game was anything but easy in the early going. Veranópolis came out with an aggressive game plan, trapping the Tricolor on its own side of the field. At one point, the home team kept Galatto busy in a sequence that featured five successive corner kicks. After weathering the storm, Grêmio finally began to hold its own on the field. In the 35th, Escalona crossed into the area and found Ramón, who headed the ball past the goalkeeper: Grêmio, 1-0. Reenergized, the Tricolor held off a Veranópolis rally and took the lead into the locker room.

Despite outplaying Grêmio most of the first half, the home team found itself trailing at halftime. But things were about to get worse. Just one minute into the second half, Elizeu was sent off for a hard tackle on Lucas, leaving Veranópolis with only ten men. With the numerical advantage, Grêmio added to its lead in the 10th. This time, Ramón crossed into the area to Lipatin, who passed to a wide open Liuz Felipe: Grêmio, 2-0. But despite the score, Veranópolis did not give up. In the 14th, Juliano found Marinho to cut the lead to 2-1. But the rally was short-lived. In the 28th, Ramón was taken down inside the area and the referee awarded a penalty kick that Tcheco easily converted: Grêmio, 3-1. Maidana put the nail in the coffin when he out leaped the defense on a corner kick in the 41st: Grêmio, 4-1.

For the first time in recent memory, Grêmio opened a competition with a win. Despite losing several players from its Série B championship team, Mano Menezes was able to keep it going. In addition, several of the new players – Ramón, Tcheco and Maidana – made immediate impacts. Now, while I’m not saying Grêmio is national championship material just yet, the Tricolor should be competitive enough to stay in Série A this year. And who knows? With Inter focused on the Libertadores Cup, maybe Grêmio can finally end the Colorado’s four-year reign as state champions.

Veranópolis (1)	Grêmio (4)
Marinho (59')	Ramon (35') Luiz Felipe (55') Tcheco (73' PK) Maidana (87')
Gilvan Renato Tilão Elizeu	Marcelo Oliveira Lipatin
Venue:  Antônio David Farina Stadium, Veranópolis (RS)
Veranópolis: Marcão; Elizeu, Fábio Vidal and Renato Tilão; Digo, Bagnara, Douglas, Vandré (Menegon) and Gilvan (Guilherme); Juliano and Marinho. Coach: Paulo Henrique	Grêmio: Galatto; Luiz Felipe, Maidana, Marcelo Oliveira and Escalona; Jeovânio, Sandro Goiano (Tcheco), Lucas and Paulo Ramos (Bruno Coutinho); Ramon (Reinaldo) and Lipatin. Coach: Mano Menezes