Grêmio Snaps Losing Streak, Beats Juventude

Grêmio beat Juventude 2-1 in Caxias do Sul to snap a two-game losing streak and recover in the Brazilian Championship. It was the third consecutive road victory for Grêmio (58 pts), who moved into third place after Santos tied 0-0 with Internacional at Beira-Rio. The result leaves the Tricolor very close to clinching a Libertadores Cup berth. Juventude,meanwhile, saw its 13-game home unbeaten streak come to an end and its South American Cup hopes severely damaged. The Alviverde (42 pts) remained in 14th-place and 4 points out of the South American Cup zone.

After an unsuccessful attempt with the 4-4-2 against Inter, Mano Menezes returned to his favored 4-5-1. The result gave Grêmio’s defense more stability as they were able to more easily control the midfield. In the 11th minute, Alessandro, who was named to the starting lineup just before kickoff, received a cross from Tcheco inside the area and kicked to opposite corner after André left his goal to challenge: Grêmio, 1-0. In the 14th, the Tricolor got a little scare when Marcelo Grohe, after defending a shot by Christian, had to leave the game with a broken pinky. He was replaced by Galatto, who saw little action as Juventude managed only one more shot in the first half. Grêmio, meanwhile, missed several opportunities to increase its lead and had to settle for a 1-0 advantage at halftime.

The second half was more of the same: Juventude seeming lost while Grêmio created opportunities. Despite controlling the game, Grêmio was unable to find the back of the net again until the 27th when Antônio Carlos put a hand on the ball following a corner into the area. Tcheco converted the ensuing penalty for his sixth goal of the Championship: Grêmio, 2-0. Juventude avoided the shutout in the 42nd when Raullen sent a free kick into the area and Christian sent a header past Galatto: Grêmio, 2-1. But it was not enough as Grêmio chalked up another victory and moved one step closer to the Libertadores Cup.

Juventude (1)	Grêmio (2)
Christian (88')	Alessandro (11') Tcheco (72' PK)
Lauro (41') Fabrício (59') Renan (65')	Jeovânio (15') Patrício (25') Tcheco (31') Evaldo (44') William (50') Alessandro (76')
Venue:  Alfredo Jaconi Stadium, Caxias do Sul (RS)
Juventude: André; Fernando (Raullen, 60'), Fabrício and Antônio Carlos; Wellington, Renan, Lauro, Alexandre and Márcio Azevedo (Igor, HT); Bruno (Leandrinho, 64') and Christian. Coach: Ivo Wortmann	Grêmio: Marcelo Grohe (Galatto, 14'); Patrício, William, Evaldo and Bruno Teles; Jeovânio, Lucas, Tcheco (Sandro, 80'), Ramón and Alessandro; Rômulo (Herrera, 82'). Coach: Mano Menezes