Grêmio Clinches Berth in Libertadores Group Stage

Grêmio will be able to breath a little easier come January. Needing a win to secure a bye into the Libertadores Cup’s Group Stage, the Tricolor routed Flamengo, 3-0, in its final home game of 2006. The win guaranteed Grêmio (67 pts) of at least third place and clinched Brazil’s final Group Stage berth, meaning the Tricolor will not need to play in the Preliminary Round. Flamengo (49 pts), who had already clinched a Group Stage berth as Brazil Cup champions, fell to 12th place with the loss.

The stadium was in a festive mood. The week before, Grêmio had clinched a Libertadores Cup berth just one year removed from the second division. Additionally, today was the one year anniversary of the “Battle of the Aflitos” – the dramatic win over Náutico in last year’s Série B – and the fans were commemorating. But despite having nothing to play for, Flamengo was not going to just roll over. The Gávea controlled the opening minutes and had an excellent chance to strike first with a shot by Obina in the 24th minute. Grêmio created few chances in the first half and, when it did manage to get a shot on goal, Bruno was there to make the stop. They best chance came in the 38th when Hugo broke into the area and forced Bruno into a difficult save.

If the first half dimmed the stadium’s mood slightly, the second half brought it all back. In the 7th, Fernando received a yellow card. Two minutes later, he was booked again for a violent tackle on Lucas and was sent off. Now with a numerical advantage, Mano Menezes pulled Alessandro and put in Ramón and switched to amore offensive formation. The tactic worked as Grêmio produced two excellent opportunities with Rômulo and Tcheco in the 14th and 15th minutes, respectively. Bruno, however, made both saves. Finally, Ramón got the Tricolor on the board in the 18th after capitalizing on a cross by Hugo: Grêmio, 1-0. In the 34th, Tcheco found Patrício inside the area. Bruno defended the wingback’s shot but Rômulo was there for the rebound: Grêmio, 2-0. Rafinha finished the rout in the 42nd, receiving a cross from Tcheco and blasting home the exclamation point.

Grêmio has one game left, against relegated Fortaleza. The Tricolor is guaranteed of finishing no worse than third, a remarkable achievement for a team that exactly one year removed from Série B. Grêmio is back among the nation’s elite and will once again contest a Libertadores Cup. The Tricolor took back the Gaúcho State Championship from Inter this year. Now, it’s time to retake South America.

Até a pé nós iremos . . .

Grêmio (3)	Flamengo (0)
Ramón (63') Rômulo (79') Rafinha (87')
Jeovânio (29') Alessandro (31') Maidana (38') Rômulo (50') Ramón (78')	Obina (18') Leo Medeiros (34') Juan (34') Fernando (52') Fernando (54')
Venue:  Olímpico Stadium, Porto Alegre (RS)
Grêmio: Galatto; Patrício, Maidana, William and Bruno Teles; Jeovânio, Lucas (Sandro, 83'), Alessandro (Ramón, 56'), Tcheco and Hugo (Rafinha, 81'); Rômulo. Coach: Mano Menezes	Flamengo: Bruno; Rodrigo Arroz, Fernando and Ronaldo Angelim; Leo Moura, Marcinho, Renato, Renato Augusto (Fellype Gabriel, 67'), Leo Medeiros and Juan; Obina (Fabiano Oliveira, 90'). Coach: Ney Franco