Grêmio Shocked by Farroupilha

Wait a minute, hold everything. It appears that all the talk of Grêmio's return to prominence may have been premature.

Riding the momentum of its Série B title, Grêmio began the season 4-0 with convincing wins over its Gaúcho State Championship rivals, outscoring them 12 to 5. With two games upcoming against last-place Farroupilha, it appeared that the Tricolor would coast to a second round berth. But the Ghosts had other plans. Farroupilha first held Grêmio to a scoreless tie in Pelotas and then exposed the Tricolor in Porto Alegre, winning 2-1 at Olímpico Stadium and knocking off the last remaining unbeaten. Grêmio (13 pts) still leads Group 2, but Veranópolis (12 pts) is right behind. Farroupilha (5 pts) moved into 5th place ahead of cellar dweller São Luiz (2 pts).

No one saw it coming. Grêmio looked far better than it did in Pelotas, needing only six minutes to get on the scoreboard. After breaking down the left side, Reinaldo found Ramón one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Poor Adir had no chance at the save: Grêmio, 1-0. With Farroupilha unable to create anything on offense, all signs pointed to a Tricolor route.

But following the goal, Grêmio continually shot itself in the foot. Time and again possible scoring chances were thrown away by errant passes and miscommunication. And when they finally were able to get the ball inside the area, they lacked finishing. In the 22nd minute, for instance, Reinaldo was handed a gift by the defense but somehow managed to blow a one-on-one opportunity with the goalkeeper, sending the ball wide of the goal.

Grêmio's inability to put its opponent away came back to bite it in the 30th when Rodrigo Gasolina got a header off a corner kick to even the score: 1-1. The home crowd finally lost patience, showering the players with a chorus of boos as left the field at halftime.

For the second half, Mano Menezes pulled the ineffective Jeovânio in favor of Marcelo Costa. Marcelo provided a boost to the midfield that, along with the new wingbacks Alessandro and Wellington, was able to advance the ball at will. But once again errors in finishing cost the Tricolor. Even the entrance of Lipatin and Pedro Júnior into the game proved fruitless. The final straw came in the 42nd when, on one of its few scoring opportunities, Farroupilha cashed in. Luiz Gustavo crossed from the right side to Luiz André who headed home the winner: Farroupilha, 2-1.

Grêmio must now do some serious soul searching. A week ago, it appeared but a formality that the Tricolor would advance to the second round. But after struggling against Farroupilha, Grêmio's game against Esportivo this weekend, in Bento Gonçalvez, looms large. Lose there and the Tricolor could be facing an uphill battle to finish atop its group. Mano Menezes has a lot of work to do before Sunday.

Grêmio (1)	Farroupilha (2)
Ramón (6')	Rodrigo Gasolina (32') Luiz André (87')
Marcelo Oliveira Wellington Paulo Ramos Marcelo Costa	Wágson Sandro Barbosa André Gueller
Venue:  Olímpico Stadium, Porto Alegre (RS)
Grêmio: Marcelo Grohe; Alessandro, Marcelo Oliveira, Maidana and Wellington; Jeovânio (Marcelo Costa), Lucas, Tcheco, Ramón and Paulo Ramos (Pedro Júnior); Reinaldo (Lipatin). Coach: Mano Menezes	Farroupilha: Adir; Paulo Roberto, Sandro Barbosa and Carlão; Flavinho, Fabiano, Rodrigo Gasolina, Diógenes (André Gueller) and Wágson; Beto (Luiz Gustavo) and Lisandro (Luiz André). Coach: Bagé