Grêmio Ties, 2-2, with Esportivo in Bento Gonçalvez

Despite a dominant second half, Grêmio was unable to find the net following the break and had to settle for a 2-2 tie with Esportivo at Montanha dos Vinhedos Stadium, in Bento Gonçalvez. Grêmio (14 pts) still leads Group 2 of the Gaúcho State Championship thanks to Farroupilha’s 3-0 drubbing of Veranópolis (12 pts), but both them and Santa Cruz (12 pts) are closing fast. Fortunately, Grêmio’s next game is at home against last-place São Luiz (2 pts). Esportivo (11 pts) fell into fourth place and will face Veranópolis.

Grêmio’s offense looked much improved since their loss to Farroupilha. Herrera, making his first start with the Tricolor, kept the Esportivo defense busy despite not finding the back of the net. The offense cut down on its mistakes and was able to move the ball effectively against the Esportivo defense. In the 8th minute, Tcheco took advantage of an error by Caio and fed the ball to Marcelo Oliveira in front of the goal: Grêmio, 1-0. Despite the early deficit, Esportivo was not intimidated and took only ten minutes to respond. In the 18th, Valdiran broke down the right side and launched the ball inside the area to Rafael for the equalizer: 1-1. Grêmio retook the lead in the 34th when Reinaldo was fouled just outside then area. Tcheco took the free kick and blasted the ball into the back of the net: Grêmio, 2-1.

Grêmio had the lead and the momentum, but a defensive lapse to start the second half would cost them the victory. Less than a minute into play, Valdiran broke into the area and Marcelo Oliveria was forced to take him down: penalty. Marco Antônio converted with ease, knotting the score once again: 2-2. The rest of the half was all Grêmio as the Tricolor dominated possession. Unfortunately, this did not translate into goals. Not even the entrance of Pedro Júnior and Paulo Ramos helped Grêmio break the deadlock and the Tricolor had to settle for a tie.

Under normal circumstances, a tie on the road could be considered a good result. And had Grêmio not been coming off a home loss to Farroupilha, that’s exactly how this result would have been viewed. Instead, a crisis situation is beginning to emerge at Olímpico. Grêmio, once 4-0, is now winless in its last three games. While they will probably still easily advance to the next round in the Gaúcho State Championship, the greater concern is how the Tricolor will fare against stiffer competition. There will be no room for error once the second round begins, and the start of the Brazil Cup is just around the corner. Fortunately Mano Menezes has three home games ahead to figure things out, starting this Wednesday against São Luiz.

Esportivo (2)	Grêmio (2)
Rafael (18') Marco Antônio (47' PK)	Marcelo Oliveira (8') Tcheco (34')
Jardel Diogo Dega Rafael Dias	Paulo Ramos Escalona
Venue:  Montanha dos Vinhedos Stadium, Bento Gonçalvez (RS)
Esportivo: Nivaldo; Marco Antônio, Ronaldo Bagé, Fabrício and Jal; Diogo, Dega, Caio, and Rafael Dias (Jardel); Rafael (Catê) and Valdiran. Coach: Nairo Pivatto	Grêmio: Marcelo; Luiz Felipe, Maidana, Marcelo Oliveira and Escalona; Nunes, Lucas, Tcheco and Ramon (Marcelo Costa); Reinaldo (Pedro Júnior) and Herrera (Paulo Ramos). Coach: Mano Menezes