Menezes leaves Corinthians on top
Reuters - Monday 26 July 2010, 06:34
RIO DE JANEIRO - Corinthians gave new
Brazil coach Mano Menezes a perfect send-off by beating Guarani
3-1 to go top of the Brazilian championship.
Menezes, who takes over as Brazil coach on Monday when he
is due to name a squad for a friendly away to the United States
next month, was given a standing ovation by the supporters.
"I'm leaving on a high," he told reporters after his last
game as Corinthians coach on Sunday. "I think the coach has
played a part in everything Corinthians have achieved since we
started here at the start of 2008."
Menezes, who led Corinthians out of the second division in
his first season in charge in 2008, will be replaced by Adilson
Batista, who was fired by Cruzeiro last month.
Corinthians playmaker Bruno Cesar scored twice in the last
10 minutes to give his side the points with both teams already
having had a man sent off.
Corinthians, who have 24 points from 11 games, overtook
Fluminense, whose coach Muricy Ramalho was offered the Brazil
job before Menezes on Friday but turned it down after his club
refused to release him.
Fluminense were held 1-1 by Botafogo in a bad-tempered
derby which produced three red cards - Fluminense substitute
Thiaguinho was dismissed four minutes for time for retaliation
while Botafogo pair Somalia and Danny Morais followed in quick
succession for second yellow cards.
Third-placed Ceara, three points behind Fluminense, were
held to a goalless draw by Luiz Felipe Scolari's Palmeiras.
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