The funnel is getting increasingly narrower in Series A1 (first division) of the Brazilian Women's Football Championship. With three games remaining in the 16th and penultimate round, five teams are already guaranteed in the quarterfinals, with three places still up for grabs among seven clubs.
The new classifieds are Ferroviária and Bahia, confirmed after last Saturday's results (15). The Guerreiras Grenás went to Sesc Campestre, in Porto Alegre, and beat Internacional, 2-1. The Women of Steel drew 1-1 with the leader Corinthians at the Casa de Apostas Arena Fonte Nova, in Salvador.
In the capital of Rio Grande do Sul, Débora gave the Gurias Coloradas an advantage against Ferroviária in the 31st minute of the second half. At 42, defender Monique equalized. Three minutes later, midfielder Maressa declared the São Paulo team's turnaround.
Bahia lost a minute into the game, with a shot from outside the area by striker Jaqueline. Before the second turn of the clock in the second half, the tricolors tied with a first-time shot by midfielder Ángela Gómez, who covered up the black and white goalkeeper Lelê.
Ferroviária, with 30 points, took fourth place, surpassing Bahia itself, which had 28 points. Both, however, can no longer be achieved by Inter, ninth placed, with 24 points, nor by Grêmio, eighth with the same score as Gurias Coloradas, but which is ahead of its rival on goal difference. Corinthians, with 38 points, guaranteed at least second place with Saturday's draw.
Extreme fights
Brabas, current six-time champions and owners of seven titles, still have the top spot threatened by São Paulo. The Soberanas have accumulated 35 points and will play this Sunday (16), at 11am (Brasília time), against Botafogo, at the Nilton Santos Stadium, in Rio de Janeiro, with live broadcast on TV Brasil.
Tricolor can equal Corinthians' score in case of victory and take the fight for leadership to the last round. For the Gloriosas, who haven't won since their debut and are at the bottom of 18 teams, the triumph takes the team out of the relegation zone ─ which involves the last two placed, Z-2 ─ and leaves the Cariocas depending on themselves next weekend to escape the drop to Série A2 (second division).
Palmeiras, in third, is another team that could reach 38 points this Sunday, but, as it has nine victories, it would not reach Timão, who has won 12 times ─ the number of victories is the first tiebreaker criterion. The Palestrinas catch Juventude at Arena Barueri, also at 11am. The Gauchos, with ten points, guarantee their stay in Series A1 in the event of a draw.
At the same time, Santos and Flamengo meet at Arena Inamar, in Diadema (SP). The Sereias da Vila, with 20 points and in 12th place, have to win this Sunday to reach the last round in the fight for classification.
Meninas da Gávea have the same 24 points as Grêmio and Inter, but are behind, in tenth, for having one less triumph. To depend on themselves in the dispute for the G-8, the red and black teams need to at least score points in the São Paulo ABC.
Guaranteed stay
A result that helped Flamengo was Grêmio's defeat to Atlético-MG at Arena MRV, in Belo Horizonte, 2-0, last Friday (14). Strikers Anny Marabá and Amália scored for the Avengers in the duel, broadcast live on TV Brasil.
The triumph removed once and for all any risk of relegation for the Atleticians, who were on 16 points. The result still placed the Minas Gerais team in 13th place, regardless of what happens in the next first phase games.
Another team that ensured its permanence was Mixto, even with Saturday's defeat to Cruzeiro, at Dutrinha, in Cuiabá, by 2-1. Byanca Brasil put the Cabulosas in the lead and fellow striker Joycinha left everything the same for the Tigresas, but defender Silvana, against, ended up scoring the winning goal for Minas Gerais.
The Mato Grosso natives benefited from the defeat Vitória suffered against Red Bull Bragantino, 6-2, at the Cícero de Souza Marques Stadium, in Bragança Paulista (SP), also this Saturday. Defender Yasmin India (own goal), midfielder Rafa Mineira and the attacking trio formed by Martina Del Trecco, Lurdinha and Ana Carla (two goals) built Massa Bruta's triumph. Fellow striker Katy Costa and midfielder Iana took the opportunity.
Flu and Braga still dream
With 12 points, in 14th place, Mixto can no longer be overtaken by Vitória, which remains in 17th and penultimate place, with seven points. Cruzeiro, which had 27 points, took sixth place and is one draw away from qualifying for the quarterfinals. Bragantino, with 23 points, is 11th and goes to the last round with a chance of progressing to the stage.
América-MG could have taken advantage of the red and black team's setback to breathe in the fight against relegation, but they were also beaten. In another game last Saturday, the Spartanas beat Fluminense 4-1 at the Estádio Luso-Brasileiro, in Rio de Janeiro. With seven points, Minas Gerais are out of Z-2 as they have a better goal difference than Vitória.
On the other hand, the tricolors achieved their third consecutive victory and entered the G-8, in sixth place, with 25 points. With two goals, Lelê was the highlight of the positive result for the Cariocas, who also scored with striker Kaline and midfielder Patrícia Sochor. Center forward Dani Ortolan scored for América-MG.
