binny

June-July 2006
We were dealt a harsh blow early on to Malutrom as Mazinho put away a penalty, but on the half hour Leandro Diniz equalised. We didn’t defend well though, and twenty minutes from time Jales broke through the defence to put Malutrom ahead. Cristiano equalised within three minutes, but we had to play the last twelve minutes with ten men after Clóvis was sent off. We were always going to struggle to keep a point, and Jales confirmed that with a goal four minutes from time.
We broke for five and a half weeks in order to watch the World Cup (won by Nigeria :eek, and during that time we completed the signing of another young defender, Juninho, who joins for £90,000 from Coritiba. That left the door open for César Lira to join Villa Nova (MG) for a fee of £12,000, and we also completed the loan signing of young goalkeeper Weber from São Raimundo (AM) for the rest of the season, with a view to a permanent move.
We got back to action with a home tie against league leaders and fierce local rivals Goiás. Jô gave us the lead with a fantastic lob on just fifteen minutes, but Goiás had the better of the half and equalised ten minutes before the break through Léo Macaé. We were much improved in the second half, and Jô restored our lead ten minutes in. Having pounded their goal for a while after that Alexandre scored his first goal for 3-1 on 75. Goiás pulled a goal back five minutes from time through Guiseppe but we held on to win and move up into second.
We got off to a fantastic start away at Ceará as Flávio Guilherme scored twice in the opening 11 minutes. But just five minutes later we had Jô sent off, and it was downhill from there. Guedinho pulled a goal back on the half hour, and Wendell equalised twelve minutes into the second half. Milton gave the home side the lead twenty minutes from time, and Fábio Júnior made sure with a fourth six minutes from time.
We welcomed bottom side São Raimundo to our place as the games kept on coming, and ten minutes in Cristiano gave us the lead. We weren’t at our fluent best, and came close to conceding an equaliser a number of times. With five minutes left Leandro Diniz added a second goal, and in the final minute Leandro Diniz added a third from the penalty spot after Zé Carlos had been sent off for handling in the box.
Goalkeeper Júnior completed an £8,000 move to third division side Uniclinic during the week prior to our trip to Joinville. The game was poor, with neither side coming very close to scoring. Even the sending off of Carlos Henrique five minutes into the second half had much of an effect, and we end the month clinging onto a top-eight spot at the halfway stage.

It’s been a tough month, and with the league so tight we can’t rest if we want to claim a top-eight spot come the end of the main league campaign in another two months.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Pos Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag G.D. Pts1st Sport Recife 12 8 2 2 25 16 +9 262nd Goiás 12 7 4 1 23 11 +12 253rd Ceará 12 7 1 4 26 26 0 224th União São João 12 6 4 2 22 13 +9 225th Criciúma 12 6 4 2 18 11 +7 226th Goiânia 12 6 3 3 24 11 +13 217th América (MG) 12 6 3 3 23 15 +8 218th AvaÃ* 12 6 3 3 20 13 +7 21-----------------------------------------------------9th Botafogo 12 5 5 2 14 13 +1 2010th Remo 12 6 0 6 22 19 +3 1811th Gama 12 5 2 5 17 17 0 1712th União Bandeirante 12 5 2 5 18 22 -4 1713th Joinville 12 4 5 3 17 10 +7 1714th CRB 12 4 2 6 23 19 +4 1415th Desportiva 12 4 2 6 17 20 -3 1416th Vitória 12 3 5 4 13 12 +1 1417th Brasiliense 12 4 1 7 18 24 -6 1318th Malutrom 12 4 1 7 17 23 -6 1319th Náutico 12 3 3 6 12 21 -9 1220th Vila Nova (GO) 12 3 3 6 9 18 -9 1221st Caxias 12 3 2 7 11 26 -15 1122nd Paulista 12 2 4 6 13 24 -11 10-----------------------------------------------------23rd América (RN) 12 1 5 6 11 18 -7 824th São Raimundo (AM) 12 1 4 7 8 19 -11 7</pre>
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">State Winner State WinnerAcre Vasco (AC) Alagoas Corinthians (AL)Amapá Aliança Amazonas Rio Negro (AM)Bahia Bahia Ceará FortalezaBrasiliense Brasiliense EspÃ*rito Santo DesportivaGaúcho Grêmio Maranhão MaranhãoMato Grosso União Rondonópolis MG do Sul Operário (MS)Minas Cruzeiro Pará PaysanduParaÃ*ba Botafogo (PB) Paraná Atlético ParanaensePernambuco Náutico PiauÃ* River (PI)Potiguar ABC Rio FluminenseRondônia Gênus Roraima BaréSanta Catarina Figueirense São Paulo São PauloSergipe Confiança (SE) Tocantins Palmas</pre>

binny

August 2006
August began with a home tie against União São João. We were given a helping hand when Marciano put the ball into his own net under pressure midway through the first half, and after some immense pressure Cristiano added a second twenty minutes from time.
We got off to a poor start away at Gama, conceding a fourth-minute effort to Robert. Gama were dominant, but we defended well and kept them at bay. Three minutes into the second half Gama had Souza sent off, and four minutes later Jô equalised. Both sides had their opportunities to win the game, but the winning goal had to wait until ten minutes from time to come as we allowed Rodriguinho all the time in the world to pick his spot and condemn us to defeat.
The trip to AvaÃ* was a terrible affair. Chances were really at a premium, and it was no surprise that the game ended 0-0.
CRB gave us a difficult tie at home, but eight minutes before the break we took the lead through Flávio Guilherme. We got a second just past the hour as goalkeeper Albérico fumbled under pressure from a Chicão shot, and we had a comfortable 2-0 win.
The trip to local rivals Vila Nova got off to a fantastic start as Jô netted in just the second minute. We were all over them, but had to wait until five minutes into the second half as Flávio Guilherme doubled the advantage. Vila Nova then had Wando sent off and by the hour Flávio Guilherme had made it 3-0. Jô added a fourth two minutes from time and we had bragging rights yet again.
The trip to América (RN) was not a pretty affair. We dominated proceedings, but couldn’t find a way through for a long while. Thirteen minutes from time Cristiano finally put us ahead, and three minutes later substitute Cley doubled the advantage. But we slacked off, and in the last three minutes Fabinho and Daniel scored for the home side as we let slip a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2.

We’ve had a decent run this month, but of our last five matches, four of them are currently in the top-six. The other two are Goiás and ourselves. Still, I think we can do it, and we must just now prove it.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Pos Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag G.D. Pts1st Sport Recife 18 11 4 3 35 22 +13 372nd América (MG) 18 10 4 4 33 19 +14 343rd Botafogo 18 9 6 3 24 16 +8 334th Goiânia 18 9 5 4 35 15 +20 325th Goiás 18 9 5 4 31 22 +9 326th Criciúma 18 9 5 4 27 18 +9 327th Ceará 18 10 1 7 36 39 -3 318th AvaÃ* 18 9 4 5 27 20 +7 31-----------------------------------------------------9th União São João 18 7 7 4 28 20 +8 2810th Remo 18 9 0 9 34 28 +6 2711th Gama 18 8 3 7 25 24 +1 2712th União Bandeirante 18 7 5 6 30 27 +3 2613th Desportiva 18 6 6 6 24 24 0 2414th Náutico 18 6 6 6 22 26 -4 2415th Vitória 18 5 7 6 19 19 0 2216th Joinville 18 5 6 7 22 19 +3 2117th América (RN) 18 4 8 6 20 22 -2 2018th Malutrom 18 6 1 11 26 33 -7 1919th Brasiliense 18 6 1 11 28 38 -10 1920th Vila Nova (GO) 18 5 4 9 17 34 -17 1921st CRB 18 5 2 11 28 30 -2 1722nd Caxias 18 4 2 12 15 44 -29 14-----------------------------------------------------23rd Paulista 18 3 5 10 19 32 -13 1424th São Raimundo (AM) 18 3 5 10 13 27 -14 14</pre>

binny

September 2006
The month started with a home tie against América (MG). We were on top during the first half, but couldn’t score and conceded on the break on the stroke of half time to Roma. We were given a helping hand just before the hour when we were awarded a penalty, and Leandro Diniz drew us level. Five minutes later Cristiano put us ahead, and after another five minutes Cristiano scored a third. We had to play the last thirteen minutes with only ten men after Clóvis was sent off, but we held on for a 3-1 victory.
Bottom of the table Paulista came to frustrate us, and they did it well. We weren’t helped when Marcelo Borges was sent off on 27, but we kept on plugging away, and two goals in the last fifteen minutes from Jô gave us a win.
We were under pressure for much of the first half at Botafogo, but we broke forward effectively and took the lead on 18 through Cristiano. More pressure ensued, and although we defended well, we were finally broken on the stroke of half time when Léo Mineiro tapped in after the ball had bounced around the box. The second half was both sides going for the win, and going into injury time it looked like ending level. But Cristiano had other ideas, and he scored a magnificent winner two minutes into injury time.
Results during the week ensured that we would have at least another six games to play after the main season ended. We celebrated with a home tie against Sport Recife. We didn’t play brilliantly, but neither did they and the game ended level at 0-0.
The last game of the month was a trip to table-toppers Criciúma. We fell behind to an early Leandrão goal, but such has been our form of late that we knew that we could get back from here. Cristiano equalised on 24, and Cley gave us the lead three minutes into the second half. The result was always in doubt until twelve minutes from time when Carlos Henrique scored from a seemingly impossible angle to ensure that we would end the regular season at the top of the pile.

The playoff group sees us facing AvaÃ*, Goiás and Ceará. We’ll play each of the sides at home and away, and the top two will go through to a final promotion group. I’m confident that we can get through, but it’s not going to be easy.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Pos Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag G.D. Pts1st Pl Goiânia 23 13 6 4 45 18 +27 452nd Pl Criciúma 23 13 5 5 41 24 +17 443rd Pl América (MG) 23 12 5 6 39 26 +13 414th Pl AvaÃ* 23 12 5 6 37 25 +12 415th Pl Goiás 23 12 5 6 36 27 +9 416th Pl Sport Recife 23 11 8 4 40 28 +12 417th Pl Remo 23 13 0 10 43 31 +12 398th Pl Ceará 23 12 3 8 48 47 +1 39-------------------------------------------------------9th Botafogo 23 10 7 6 36 29 +7 3710th Gama 23 11 3 9 34 31 +3 3611th Vitória 23 9 7 7 31 25 +6 3412th CRB 23 10 2 11 40 33 +7 3213th União Bandeirante 23 9 5 9 35 33 +2 3214th União São João 23 8 8 7 32 33 -1 3215th Desportiva 23 8 6 9 32 35 -3 3016th Náutico 23 7 9 7 28 32 -4 3017th América (RN) 23 6 9 8 27 28 -1 2718th Malutrom 23 8 2 13 38 44 -6 2619th Joinville 23 6 8 9 26 28 -2 2620th Brasiliense 23 8 1 14 35 46 -11 2521st Vila Nova (GO) 23 5 6 12 21 45 -24 2122nd Caxias 23 5 2 16 18 55 -37 17-------------------------------------------------------23rd R São Raimundo (AM) 23 4 5 14 15 33 -18 1724th R Paulista 23 3 5 15 20 41 -21 14</pre>

PMLF

I am glad you qualified to the Second Phase of the tournament. :thup:

And you are right these matches won't be easy.

binny

Thanks for the continued support PMLF. Hope we don't disappoint


October 2006
We were under pressure for much of the first half at AvaÃ*, but we held out and two minutes into the second half broke to take the lead through Flávio Guilherme. We added a second just before the hour through Cristiano, but seven minutes later we had Jô sent off, just minutes after coming off the bench. AvaÃ* pulled a goal back eight minutes from time through Abedi, but we held on for victory.
We had another difficult game, this time at home to Ceará. The sending off of Marcos Roberto three minutes into the second half followed a goalless first half. Four minutes later Clóvis put us ahead, but on the hour we found ourselves down to nine men when Bosco was given his marching orders. We somehow scored a second five minutes later as Leandro Diniz cut through the Ceará defence and fired in, but within five minutes later Guedinho had pulled a goal back for the visitors. We did through manage to close out the last twenty minutes, and held on to win.
We were down to the bare bones for the home tie with Goiás due to numerous suspensions, and we got off to a poor start as Araújo struck in the sixth minute. Seven minutes later Flávio Guilherme equalised, only for Araújo to restore the lead for the visitors within 120 seconds. Goiás were totally on top, and just before the break Muñoz made it 3-1. We got a goal back early in the second half as Cley scored on the break, but four minutes later Araújo completed his hatrick and condemned us to defeat.
The month ended with a home tie, this time against AvaÃ*. Both sides went all out for the game, but neither could find the net for the majority of the game. Sixteen minutes from time Cristiano finally found a way through, but five minutes later Tim struck to earn AvaÃ* a point.

It’s down to three clubs for the two spots to have a chance at promotion, but our last two games are both away from home, and we can’t be complacent.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Pos Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag G.D. Pts1st Goiás 4 2 1 1 8 6 +2 72nd AvaÃ* 4 2 1 1 6 4 +2 7-------------------------------------------3rd Goiânia 4 2 1 1 7 7 0 74th Ceará 4 0 1 3 2 6 -4 1</pre>

binny

November 2006
The trip to Ceará looked like ending goalless for a long time, with neither side able to find the back of the net. Three minutes from time Jô put us ahead, and in the final minute Jô added a second. Three minutes into injury time Cristiano made it 3-0 although the scoreline was a bit harsh on Ceará.
We travelled to local rivals Goiás knowing that we only needed a point to qualify for the final stage. We played much the better football, and on the half hour took the lead through Cristiano. Six minutes before the break Leandro Diniz added a second, and we were on our way. We were handed a blow when Bosco was sent off just before the hour, but we held tight at the back. It was only four minutes from time when Guiseppe pulled a goal back for Goiás, but it wasn’t to be for them as we progressed to the final four.
It’s another group stage, with the top two winning promotion to the top flight. It won’t be easy though, as the top four from the original league phase have qualified through.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Pos Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag G.D. Pts1st Q Goiânia 6 4 1 1 12 8 +4 132nd Q AvaÃ* 6 3 2 1 15 7 +8 11---------------------------------------------3rd Goiás 6 2 1 3 11 16 -5 74th Ceará 6 0 2 4 3 10 -7 2</pre>
We got off to a fantastic start at AvaÃ* as Cristiano put us ahead in just the second minute. AvaÃ* were playing much the better football, but we defended well, and on the half hour broke to score a second through Flávio Guilherme. Five minutes from time Leandro Diniz made it 3-0, before Joélson pulled a goal back three minutes from the end.
We hosted América (MG) next, but neither side could find much in the way of attacking football, and the game ended goalless.
We were caught out by an excellent strike from Gilberto early on at home to Criciúma, and six minutes later things got worse as Carlos Alexandre was given his marching orders for two bookable offences. We somehow managed not to concede any more goals, but neither did we and we lost the game.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Pos Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag G.D. Pts1st América (MG) 3 1 2 0 3 2 +1 52nd AvaÃ* 3 1 1 1 5 4 +1 4------------------------------------------------3rd Goiânia 3 1 1 1 3 2 +1 44th Criciúma 3 1 0 2 2 5 -3 3</pre>

binny

December 2006
Another explosive start came at home to AvaÃ*, Cristiano scoring on four minutes. Five minutes later though Jéfferson Feijão equalised, and just before the half hour a poor defensive mistake allowed Binho in to put the visitors 2-1 up. But we regrouped quickly, and before half time Cristiano levelled things up again. There was more action in the second half, but neither side could find a goal, even when AvaÃ* had Marcone sent off twenty minutes from time.
We travelled to América (MG), knowing that we had to get some sort of result to keep our promotion hopes alive. But twenty minutes in Galvão had the home side ahead. We held out for 1-0 at half time, and on 56 got a lucky break as Leandro Diniz equalised from the penalty spot. Even more sensationally was when Jô put us ahead on the hour, and despite intense pressure we held on to win.
Criciúma had already secured promotion, and we travelled to them knowing that a draw in our last game of the season would earn us a place in the top-flight, whatever the result in the América-AvaÃ* game. The game was by no means a classic, and by half time it was 0-0. But three minutes into the second half MaÃ*rton put the home side ahead, only for Leandro Diniz to equalise with another penalty just past the hour. Marcão was sent off two minutes from time for the home side, but it was us who held out to claim a point and promotion to the elite.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Pos Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag G.D. Pts1st C Criciúma 6 3 1 2 8 8 0 102nd P Goiânia 6 2 3 1 8 6 +2 9--------------------------------------------------3rd AvaÃ* 6 2 2 2 10 7 +3 84th América (MG) 6 1 2 3 6 11 -5 5</pre>
Last season it was our away form that worried me, this season I’ve felt that our home form has been disappointing. Still, I can’t really complain as we’ve won promotion, and that means that we are officially the highest ranked Goiás side in the country. Leandro Diniz was awarded second place in the division’s Player of the Year award, and somewhat surprisingly Jô won the Young Player of the Year award. I was the runner up in the Manager of the Year, and it’s been a fantastic season.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Name Apps Cln Conc MoM Av RFlávio Mendes 51 27 39 3 7.41Tute - - - - ----Weber 3 1 3 0 6.67-------------------------------------------Júnior - - - - ----Name Apps Gls Asts MoM Av RAlessandro Lopes 25 0 0 1 6.72Alex 42 0 1 2 6.88Alexandre 13 (18) 1 5 0 6.77Bira - - - - ----Bosco 47 0 3 6 7.06Carlos Alexandre 40 1 0 7 7.03Carlos Henrique 2 (10) 1 1 0 6.50Chicão 40 1 9 0 6.53Cley 8 (19) 8 6 0 6.59Clóvis 21 (4) 1 3 0 7.40Cristiano 43 (6) 24 12 0 7.20Edgar - - - - ----Flávio Guilherme 42 25 6 3 6.81Henrique 1 (4) 0 0 0 6.00Jean 16 (5) 0 3 0 7.00Juninho 7 (11) 0 0 0 6.67Jô 13 (5) 11 5 1 6.78Leandro Diniz 52 13 21 4 7.81Liminha 27 (16) 2 5 2 7.21LuÃ*s Fernando 2 (6) 3 0 1 6.88Léo 1 (1) 0 1 0 6.50Marcelo Borges 11 (16) 0 1 1 6.59Marcos Roberto 34 (6) 0 1 3 6.97Michel 0 (4) 0 2 0 7.00Róbson - - - - ----Stefano 11 (12) 0 0 1 6.13William 27 (4) 5 1 1 6.58-------------------------------------------César Lira 0 (1) 0 0 0 5.00Claudecir 15 1 5 1 7.73Daniel Rossi 0 (3) 0 0 0 7.00</pre>
Yet again there was one player who really stood out for us this season. Flávio Mendes had another wonderful season in goal, but there was no question that the fans were going to vote for Leandro Diniz as their player of the season. He’s been absolutely fantastic yet again, and he can now really show his worth as we move into the top flight.

binny

Preseason 2007
There was quite a bit of transfer activity as we rushed to get our squad together before the Goiás Championship started again. Edgar was the only player to leave the club during the close season, going to Ceará for a snip at £22,000. 14-year-old Alex Rodrigues, a striker, came through the youth ranks, and we made the loan deal of goalkeeper Weber permanent, as he joined for £35,000 from São Raimundo (AM). Rafael Moçamba, a winger, came in from Caxias for £20,000 and attacking midfielder Helinho was signed for £100,000 from Remo. Full back Bruno Leite came in for £150,000 from Vasco, and we signed another winger, Carlos Alberto, for a nominal fee from São Paulo.
We played two friendly games in the build-up to the new season, and the first one was away at Bandeirante (DF). An early strike from Jô sent us on our way, and Flávio gave us a second on 27 with an own goal. Cristiano scored a third six minutes into the second half, and we won the game 3-2. Cristiano and Michel scored in either half on our trip to Figueirense, and the home side scored a late consolation as we won 2-1.
With a minimum of 58 games this season we’re really going to need our squad this season, and I believe that we can make a good fist of it.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Flávio Mendes GK Tute GKWeber GK Bira D RBosco D/DM RC Bruno Leite D RLCarlos Alexandre D R Stefano D RLAlex D/DM L Juninho D LCMarcelo Borges D/M LC Alessandro Lopes D CHenrique D C Marcos Roberto D CClóvis DM C Jean DM CRóbson M LC Carlos Alberto AM RLChicão AM R Léo AM RRafael Moçamba AM/F RC Leandro Diniz AM LHelinho AM/F C Liminha AM CWilliam AM C Carlos Henrique F RLCristiano F LC Alex Rodrigues S CCley S C Flávio Guilherme S CJô S C LuÃ*s Fernando S CMichel S C</pre>

PMLF

Good to know you have been promoted to the Brasileirão (Brazilian National First Division). :thup:

Carlos Alberto and to a lesser extent Bruno Leite and Rafael Moçamba were great signings. :thup:

If you finish the National League within the 12 first positions you'll qualify to Copa Sudamericana.

If you win the Brazilian Cup or finish within the first 4 positions you'll qualify to Copa Libertadores but I suppose you already know that.

Keep up the good work!

Educated Hick

Simply amazing Binny, that's I all have to say. Keep it up!

You gotta admire a league structure that makes a team work for promotion.