Advantage, Grêmio
Game 1 of Gaúcho Championship Finals Ends in Electrifying 3-3 Tie

After 90 minutes of spirited soccer, the Gaúcho State Championship finals are tied. Grêmio and Juventude put on an exciting display en rout to a 3-3 draw in Game 1 at Alfredo Jaconi Stadium that set up a winner-take-all showdown next week at Olímpico. The advantage, however, definitely lies with Grêmio. In addition to hosting the final, the Tricolor can win the title with a tie of up to two goals thanks to its three away scores. Only a win or a tie of 4-4 or more will serve for Juventude. Another 3-3 draw would see the title decided by penalty kicks.

Playing all his available starters, Mano Menezes showed that he came to Caxias do Sul to win. In the 3rd minute, Carlos Eduardo received a pass from Tcheco, juked his defender and blasted the ball into the left corner of the net: Grêmio, 1-0. Three minutes later, he served up a pass to Tuta, who forced André into a difficult save. After withstanding the initial onslaught, Juventude managed its first shot when Michel hit the crossbar in the 14th. Pushed by their home crowd, the Parrots began to take control and appeared to tie things up in the 28th when Radamés headed home a free kick from William. The referee, however, disallowed the goal on a dubious offsides call. Juventude got on the board to stay four minutes later when Wescley scored on a similar set piece: 1-1.

But the home team’s celebrations were short-lived. Just two minutes later, André misjudged a lofted pass at the edge of the area by Tcheco. Rather than risk ejection by using his hands so close to the area border, he could do nothing but watch as the ball bounced over his head to Carlos Eduardo, who guided it into the net: Grêmio, 2-1.

But if the first half belonged to Grêmio, the second belonged to Juventude. Six minutes into the final period, Cristiano stole the ball, ran past Teco and shot into the lower right corner of the goal: 2-2. The Parrots had captured the momentum, but Grêmio had at least three opportunities to take it right back. Patrício, in the 11th, and Sandro Goiano, in the 15th, both missed great scoring chances, while Tuta headed wide a sure score in the 17th. Juventude also had its chances as the game went back and forth. In the 35th, Tuta had another opportunity to put the Tricolor in front but once again failed to convert.

As the old Brazilian soccer adage goes, “those who fail to score will be scored upon”. Less than a minute had gone by after Tuta’s latest miss when Da Silva blasted the ball past Saja and into the right corner: Juventude, 3-2. The Parrots had completed the incredible comeback and appeared headed to Porto Alegre with the advantage. In the 40th, Juliano and Patrício got into a scuffle and were both sent off. With fewer players on the field, the game really opened up and made for a dramatic finish as both teams threatened to score. In the 47th, Tuta redeemed himself for his earlier misses, knocking home a header from inside the small area: 3-3.

With Game 1 in the books, Grêmio will now focus its attention on its Libertadores Cup showdown with São Paulo. Game 1 of their Round of 16 playoff series is Wednesday at Morumbi Stadium. The Tricolor will then host Juventude in the Gaucho Championship finale on Sunday. Grêmio knows that the battle for the state title is not over. Juventude is a quality team and will come with everything to take the championship away from Olímpico. But pushed by its home fans, I find I difficult to image anything other than Mano Menezes holding aloft the Gaúcho League trophy a week from today.

Juventude (3)	Grêmio (3)
Wescley (32') Cristiano (52') Da Silva (80')	Carlos Eduardo (2') Carlos Eduardo (34') Tuta (92+')
Wescley (19') Júlio César (53') Lauro (56') Juliano (86') Da Silva (93+')	Diego Souza (13') Sandro Goiano (27') Lucio (69') Patrício (86') Tuta (89')
Venue:  Alfredo Jaconi Stadium, Caxias do Sul (RS)
Juventude: André; Michel (Gabriel, HT), Ederson, Wescley and Márcio Azevedo; Radamés, Júlio César (Fábio Rosa, 66'), Lauro, William and Juliano; Cristiano (Da Silva, 66'). Coach: Ivo Wortmann	Grêmio: Saja; Patrício, William, Teco and Lúcio (Bruno Teles, 80'); Edmílson, Sandro, Diego Souza and Tcheco (Éverton, 83'); Carlos Eduardo (Ramon, 71') and Tuta. Coach: Mano Menezes