Miracle Finish at Olímpico
Grêmio Blows 2-0 Lead, Scores Twice in Injury Time to Salvage Tie

Unreal.

That’s the only way to describe Grêmio’s incredible 4-4 tie with Fluminense in the 12th Round of the Brazilian Championship. After taking a 2-0 lead midway through the second half, the Gaúchos unbelievably allowed Fluminense to score four unanswered goals, only to rally for two goals in injury time to salvage the tie. The result dropped Grêmio (16 pts) one spot into 10th place, while Fluminense (23 pts) remained in 4th. Grêmio will return to action on Saturday when it visits Figueirense, in Florianópolis.

The way Grêmio played in the first half gave no indication of the drama that would ensue in the second. The first 45 minutes were probably the best the Tricolor Gaúcho has played all year with Rafinha and Rômulo making their official debuts in fantastic fashion. Along with Tcheco and Ramon, they laid siege to the Fluminense goal, dominating the league’s No. 4 team. In the 26th minute, Rafinha crossed into the small area where Ramon headed the ball past Fernando Henrique to open the scoring: Grêmio, 1-0.

But it wasn’t just the offense that was playing well. The defense, one of the league’s most porous, snuffed out any attempt by Fluminense to create some offense. The Cariocas just could not break the tight coverage provided by Escalona, Patrício and Maidana. With such great play on both sides of the ball, the Tricolor Gaúcho went into the locker room at halftime to a standing ovation.

Fluminense regrouped at the break and brought pressure in the opening minutes of the second half, finally managing to threaten Galatto’s goal. But Grêmio withstood the rally and, on a counter-attack, doubled the lead with a Rômulo strike in the 22nd: Grêmio, 2-0. The crowd was ecstatic as the route was on.

Or was it? They were still celebrating in the stands when Evando got Fluminense on the board with a diving header in the 26th: Grêmio, 2-1. Tcheco argued vehemently that a foul had occurred on the play and was subsequently sent off by referee Cléber Assunção Gonçalves. It was Grêmio’s sixth red card in twelve Brazilian Championship matches and the beginning of one of the biggest meltdowns in the club’s history.

Following Tcheco’s ejection, Grêmio completely lost its composure and allowed Fluminense to take over the game. Petkovic knotted the game at two apiece with an Olympic goal in the 32nd. Two minutes later, Marcelo gave the Cariocas the lead: Fluminense, 3-2. That’s three goals in less than ten minutes.

In the 37th, Jean was sent off for two vicious tackles just four minutes after entering the game. With the sides now even, the stage was set for a Grêmio comeback. But Petkovic slammed the door on any hope of a rally in the 42nd with a blast from outside the area: Fluminense, 4-2. With only three minutes left, plus injury time, the game was over.

But this is Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense. In a finish reminiscent of last year’s Série B final against Náutico, Grêmio pulled off another miracle finish. In the 47th, Herrera finally found the back of the net, giving the Tricolor some life: Fluminense, 4-3. The stage was set for a hero, and Rômulo stepped up. In the 49th, seconds before the final whistle, he beat Fernando Henrique to get Grêmio the improbable tie: 4-4.

While Grêmio avoided a second consecutive loss, the game exposed Grêmio’s biggest weakness: lack of discipline. It was a lack of discipline that resulted in Tcheco’s ejection and the meltdown that allowed Fluminense to score four straight. This game was a microcosm of Grêmio’s season. The first 67 minutes demonstrated how good the Tricolor could be. The last 23 showed why they’re just a middle of the pack team. Grêmio has had impressive shutout wins and humiliating blowout defeats. What is needed is discipline. The potential is there. Mano Menezes just needs to get his players to learn to focus. The final two minutes showed just how explosive their offense could be. If Grêmio can learn to stay focused throughout a full 90 minutes, they would truly be a team to be reckoned with.

Grêmio (4)	Fluminense (4)
Ramón (26') Rômulo (67') Herrera (92+') Rômulo (94+')	Evando (71') Petkovic (77') Marcelo (79') Petkovic (87')
Jeovânio (53') Tcheco (70') Tcheco (70')	Tuta (37') Marcão (53') Marcelo (73') Jean (81') Jean (82')
Venue:  Olímpico Stadium, Porto Alegre (RS)
Grêmio: Galatto; Patrício, Maidana, William and Escalona; Lucas, Sandro (Jeovânio, 13'), Tcheco, Rafinha and Ramón (Herrera, 80'); Rômulo. Coach: Mano Menezes	Fluminense: Fernando Henrique; Rogério, Gabriel Santos, Thiago Silva and Marcelo; Marcão, Arouca (Beto, 73'), Juliano (Jean, 78') and Petkovic; Cláudio Pitbull and Tuta (Evando, HT). Coach: Oswaldo de Oliveira