GAÚCHO STATE CHAMPIONS
Grêmio Routs Juventude to Capture 35th Title

In a dominating performance that mirrored its season, Grêmio routed Juventude 4-1 in the return leg of the Gaúcho Championship finals to win its second consecutive state title. The result gave the Tricolor a 7-4 aggregate win as they captured consecutive state crowns for the first time since 1995-96. The title, Grêmio’s 35th overall, leaves them just two back of Inter’s record of 37. Juventude, meanwhile, fell to 0-3 against the Tricolor in the finals and will have to wait another year to add to its lone triumph of 1998.

Despite needing only a tie, Grêmio took the field determined to win. With a suffocating defensive scheme, the Tricolor kept play on Juventude’s side of the field. Offensively, Grêmio was led by Carlos Eduardo, who gave the Ju defense fits with his speed and agility. The first chance at goal came in the 8th minute when Diego Souza dribbled past two defenders and, facing a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper, managed to shoot into the hands of André. The play animated the crowd that was already rocking in anticipation of a championship. In the 15th, Tuta could not finish off a Lúcio cross, leaving the ball to Tcheco who blasted it into the net: Grêmio, 1-0.

Unable to get anything going offensively, Juventude relied on distance shots that rarely troubled the Tricolor defenders. Ju’s lone shot of the first half came in the 32nd when Da Silva got past Edmílson and blasted towards the goal where Saja made a great save. Defensively, however, Juventude was able to stifle Grêmio’s advances, meaning they were still in the game at the half.

But whatever hope Juventude may have had at a comeback were dashed early in the second half. In the 3rd, André punched away a cross by Tuta but the ball hung up in the air in front of the goal. Diego Souza took the gift opportunity, knocking the ball into the back of the net with a spectacular bicycle kick: Grêmio, 2-0. The rout was on. In the 8th, Gavilán crossed into the area to Tuta, who was taken down by Ricardo. The center-forward’s kick, however, was denied by André.

But Juventude could not deny the Tricolor for long. In the 16th, Tcheco broke into the top of the area and notched his second of the game: Grêmio, 3-0. The stadium erupted as they sensed the game was no longer in question. The remainder of the game would be but celebration. Lúcio’s goal in the 23rd was merely icing on the cake: Grêmio, 4-0. Juventude did manage to save its pride, scoring in the 32nd when a deflected free kick ended up with Gabriel: Grêmio, 4-1. But the day was Grêmio’s. When the final whistle blew, the best team in the Gaúcho League was awarded the trophy and half the state of Rio Grande do Sul erupted in celebration.

Grêmio (4)	Juventude (1)
Tcheco (15') Diego Souza (48') Tcheco (60') Lúcio (68')	Gabriel (76')
Carlos Eduardo (29') Gavilán (56')	Ederson (11') Márcio Azavedo (43') Radamés (59')
Venue:  Olímpico Stadium, Porto Alegre (RS)
Grêmio: Saja; Gavilán (Nunes, 85'), William, Teco and Lúcio (Bruno Teles, 74'); Edmílson, Sandro Goiano, Diego Souza, Tcheco and Carlos Eduardo (Ramón, 77'); Tuta. Coach: Mano Menezes	Juventude: André; Ricardo (Viega, 62'), Ederson, Fabrício and Márcio Azavedo; Lauro, Radamés, William (Júlio César, 66') and Paulo Ramos; Cristiano and Da Silva. Coach: Ivo Wortmann