Controversies enliven Brazil Championship
RIO DE JANEIRO: The Brazilian Championship came to life at the weekend with a flurry of goals, refereeing controversies and a bizarre penalty.
Goias midfielder Amaral was involved in the strangest incident during his team's game at Atletico Paranaense.
Apparently thinking the referee had blown for a free kick, Amaral, under no pressure, put his hands on the ball and threw it forward only to have a penalty awarded against him for handball.
Paranaense striker Marcelo Ramos stepped up and converted his team's fourth goal in its 5-0 win.
Cruzeiro won for the fourth time in five games by beating Vasco da Gama 1-0 with a goal which had its opponents fuming.
Vasco goalkeeper Tiago was penalized for holding onto the ball for too long and conceded a free kick inside his own area from which Charles scored.
"It was absurd," Tiago told reporters. "I know more about the rules of the game than the referee."
Santos coach Cuca was also angry after his team had Wesley sent off early in the second half of their match at Vitoria for fighting.
"It was the wrong decision," said Cuca. "It was a yellow card at the most. After that it was complicated for our team."
Dinei scored the only goal in the 25th minute to hand Cuca a losing debut and leave his team with only four points from five games.
Botafogo, Cuca's previous club, fared better as it beat Coritiba 2-1 in its first game under new coach Geninho, with Lucio Flavio slotting home an 85th minute penalty controversially awarded for handball.
Sao Paulo and Flamengo both emulated Paranaense by scoring five goals.
Flamengo's win took it top of the table with 13 points from five games, ahead of Cruzeiro on goal difference. Sao Paulo's win was it first of the championship.
Agencies
(China Daily 06/10/2008 page24)
