Corinthians falter with minds on Libertadores
Reuters - Monday 18 June 2012, 00:24
Corinthians' poor start
to the defence of their Brazilian title continued with a 1-0
defeat away to promoted Ponte Preta on Sunday.
The champions paid the price for resting their first team
regulars with an eye to Wednesday's semi-final, second leg of
the Libertadores Cup at home to holders Santos.
Corinthians, determined to win the continental crown for the
first time, are bottom of the domestic championship standings
with one point from five matches.
None of the eleven players who started last Wednesday's
upset 1-0 win at Santos in the first leg of the Libertadores
semi-final took part in the match against Ponte Preta at
Campinas deep in Sao Paulo state.
Striker Andre Luis scored the only goal with a header three
minutes before halftime.
Santos are only slightly better off in the championship with
three points from three draws as they also keep their best
players fresh for their bid to win the Libertadores for the
fourth time.
They lost 1-0 to Flamengo at the Engenhao in Rio de Janeiro.
Argentine substitute midfielder Dario Bottinelli scored the
winner with a penalty two minutes from time.
Vasco da Gama, eliminated by Corinthians in the Libertadores
quarter-finals in mid-May, stayed top and unbeaten with 13
points after a 1-1 draw away to Palmeiras.
Former Olympique Lyon and Brazil midfielder Juninho secured
the point when he equalized with a trademark free-kick eight
minutes from the end.
Ronaldinho's new club Atletico Mineiro lost their unbeaten
record when they went down 1-0 at Sao Paulo.
Former Brazil striker Luis Fabiano scored in the 41st minute
before being sent off five minutes from the end of the match
when he was booked for dissent, his second yellow card.
Mineiro are third with 10 points, one less than their
arch-rivals Cruzeiro from the city of Belo Horizonte.