Grêmio Wins Nine-Goal Scorefest in Ijuí
Lucas Scores Gamewinner After Tricolor Blows 3-0 Lead

What began as an easy game turned into a thriller as lowly São Luiz gave Grêmio everything it could handle at 19 de Outubro Stadium. The Tricolor led 3-0 before São Luiz came storming back in the second half to knot the game at 4-4. An 83rd minute score by Lucas salvaged the win and secured a berth in the Gaúcho State Championship playoffs. Grêmio (31 pts) leads Group 2 by 13 points and needs just one win in its last five games to clinch the group and a playoff bye. São Luiz (11 pts) fell to 6th place.

The way the game began, it looked as if this would be another Gaúcho Championship rout. Grêmio dominated from kickoff as the Tricolor kept São Luiz on its heels. After several near misses, Grêmio finally found the back of the net in the 20th when Diego Souza blasted in a cross from Tcheco: Grêmio, 1-0. Three minutes later, Ramón added to the lead after heading in another Tcheco cross: Grêmio, 2-0. And three minutes after that, another goal, this time by Éverton. Following a corner, Schiavi’s header was defended, but the young forward was there to conclude with a header of his own: Grêmio, 3-0. It was just 26 minutes into the game and the rout was on.

Grêmio continued to attack but failed to add to the lead. In the 39th, São Luiz caught the Grêmio defense sleeping on a counter-attack as Chiquinho got behind the fullbacks and blasted in a cross from Rafael to get the home team on the board: Grêmio, 3-1. That’s how the score stood at halftime, with the game seemingly well in control.

Grêmio had two great opportunities to add to its lead in the first ten minutes of the second half but did not cash in. São Luiz, when it got its opportunity, did. In the 11th, Gustavo received a pass inside the small area and pulled the home team to within one: Grêmio, 3-2. Five minutes later, Tcheco made it a two-goal lead once again with a well-placed header, giving Grêmio some apparent breathing room: Grêmio, 4-2.

But São Luiz would not go away. Moments after Ramón had a goal called back for offsides in the 27th, Rogerinho blasted in a rocket from the left side to once again make it a one-goal game: Grêmio, 4-3. Three minutes later, Gustavo embarrassed the Tricolor defense, breaking free into the area and leaving Saja with no chance: game tied, 4-4.

São Luiz had all the momentum and it seemed that Grêmio was about to let victory slip away. But in the 38th, Lucas found himself in position to take a shot just outside the area and sent the ball into the upper right corner: Grêmio, 5-4. But the game wasn’t over and things became very heated. Mano Menezes was sent off for coming onto the field to argue a call, as was São Luiz’s Sandro for a foul away from the play on Patrício. As a result of these incidents, 7 minutes of stoppage time was added, but the score remained unaltered. Grêmio had survived.

The result of this game should be of great concern to all gremistas. Yes, Grêmio did win, but its defense allowed four goals to a mediocre team. Was this a result of lack of concentration, or a sign that Grêmio’s “D” is not as good as wee all thought? Play like that against Deportes Tolima on Thursday and Grêmio will return home with a blowout loss. With its offense in dire straights with the losses of Tuta and Douglas, it will be up to the defense to keep Grêmio in the game against Tolima. Hopefully, this game was a fluke. We’ll have our answer on Thursday.

São Luiz (4)	Grêmio (5)
Chiquinho (39') Gustavo (56') Rogerinho (72') Gustavo (75')	Diego Souza (20') Ramón (23') Éverton (26') Tcheco (61') Lucas (83')
Gustavo (57') Sandro (89') Tiago Martins (95+')	Lucas (42') Lúcio (47') Schiavi (77')
Venue:  19 de Outubro Stadium, Ijuí (RS)
São Luiz: Adilson; Marquinhos, Tiago Martins, Faccin (Bronzatti, 73') and Itaqui; Sandro, Beto Fronza, Flavinho (Rogerinho, 27') and Chiquinho; Evandro Brito (Gustavo, HT) and Rafael. Coach: Paulo Roberto Wissmann	Grêmio: Saja; Patrício, Schiavi (Teco, 79'), William and Lúcio; Nunes, Lucas, Diego Souza (Itaqui, 78') and Tcheco; Ramón and Éverton (William Magrão, 92+'). Coach: Mano Menezes