FIFA 2003 - Regional Cup Qualif. - BRAZIL

OMG it's so weird in Brazil as we got 15 teams! How the hell should we devide them, here's an idea. First we take 2 theoreticly worst teams and they play 2 leg round against eachother. We lose 1 team, 14 stays. In next round we take 8 posibly worst teams of those 14 and draw a 2 leg round. So another 4 teams are out we have 10 teams left. From this point we make it as we did in Austria so, we take 8 of them and play tournament and 2 strongest in the league play eachother for a place in a final where they meet winner 1 of those 8 teams. Oh Brazil why 15 teams?! Let's do this.

Highlights

"Corinthians Show"
Complicated proces of qualification as we have an odd number of teams in Brazil. From 15 teams that competed for a place in the final, first 2 potentialy worst were playing for a place in the 2nd round. It was Cruzeiro who made it thanks to good play by Fabio Junior and Joaozinho. In the next round they had a bit luck and drawn EC Bahia, wich looked strong only on paper but on the filed both teams played an equal competition. Few minutes before extra time Joaozinho scored the decicer and Cruzeiro was in the 3rd round.

Corinthians show the first sign of good form in home game agains Santos. Thanks to striker Deivid and experienced capitan Vampeta, team easily won 4:0. Revange was formality and though Santos won 2:1 it was Corinthians who grabbed the place in 3rd round along with EC Victoria, Flamengo and off course Cruzeiro.

With 10 teams still in the game, winners from 2nd round had to face 4 new contenders who did not have to play so far. Gremio and Sao Paulo were not to join the tournament before the finals. In the most dramatic game on this level Cruzeiro clashed with Corinthians. In first game thanks to outstanding performence by Joaozinho it was Cruzeiro who won 3:0 and give themselfs a really good position before the revange. Corinthians did not give up though and after goals from Deivid and Guilherme managed to make it even after 90 minutes. In the extra time home side who still were on the wave scored a golden goal and mission imposible was complited.

Quater finals well not easy for Corinthians as well. But again against Atletico Paranaense good form of Guilherme and a great will to fight made the difference. In the second pair, Atletico Mineiro who earlier won with Vasco da Gama in penalties won easily with Flamengo.

In semi finals Gremio and Sao Paulo joined the competition playing each other. Game was equal and it took extra time to decide who is the better team. Finally it was Gremio who scored a golden goal and put themselfs in the final. Corinthians looked very confident in 2:0 game against Atletico and this time secure the place in the final without unnessesary drama. The decider it self was not as legendary as fans hoped. Both teams play secure football mainly trying not to lose goals. But again Guilherme proven that he trully is the MVP of this tournament as he managed to put his name on the score list and put in a goal that made Corinthians the champions.

1st Round
Botafago 1:0 Cruzeiro
1:0 - Tailson

Cruzeiro 3:0 Botafago
1:0 - Fabio Junior
2:0 - Joaozinho
3:0 - Fabio Junior

Free qualification: Internacional, EC Victoria, Palmeiras, Flamengo, Corinthians, Santos, EC Bahia, Gremio, Sao Paulo, Atletico Para., Atletico Min., Fluminense, Vasco da Gama

2nd Round
Internacional 2:0 EC Victoria
1:0 - Daniel Carvalho
2:0 - Daniel Carvalho

EC Victoria 3:0 Interacional
1:0 - Andre
2:0 - Aristizabal
3:0 - Andre

Palmeiras 2:1 Flamengo
1:0 - Munoz
1:1 - Liedson
2:1 - Munoz

Flamengo 1:0 Palmeiras
1:0 - Caio

Corinthians 4:0 Santos
1:0 - Deivid
2:0 - Vampeta
3:0 - Vampeta
4:0 - Vampeta

Santos 2:1 Corinthians
0:1 - Guilherme
1:1 - Diego
2:1 - Robinho

EC Bahia 0:0 Cruzeiro

Cruzeiro 1:0 EC Bahia
1:0 - Joaozinho

Free qualification: Vasco da Gama, Fluminense, Atletico Para, Atletico Min, Gremio, Sao Paulo

3rd Round
EC Victoria 2:0 Flamengo
1:0 - Andre
2:0 - Aristizabal

Flamengo 3:0 EC Victoria AET
1:0 - Caio
2:0 - Gomes
3:0 - Caio

Fluminense 1:1 Atletico Paranaense
1:0 - Roni
1:1 - Kleber

Atletico Paranaense 2:0 Fluminense
1:0 - Dagoberto
2:0 - Dagoberto

Cruzeiro 3:0 Corinthians
1:0 - Wendell
2:0 - Joaozinho
3:0 - Joaozinho

Corinthians 4:0 Cruzeiro AET
1:0 - Deivid
2:0 - Guilherme
3:0 - Guilherme
4:0 - Deivid

Atletico Mineiro 2:1 Vasco da Gama
1:0 - Paulinho
1:1 - Souza
2:1 - Renaldo

Vasco da Gama 2:1 Atletico Mineiro PEN. 2:4
1:0 - Siston
2:0 - Siston
2:1 - Marques

Free Qualification: Gremio, Sao Paulo

Quater Finals
Atletico Paranaense 2:1 Corinthians
1:0 - Bahia
1:1 - Guilherme
2:1 - Kleber

Corinthians 2:0 Atletico Paranaense
1:0 - Deivid
2:0 - Guilherme

Atletico Mineiro 4:1 Flamengo
0:1 - Liedson
1:1 - Renaldo
2:1 - Renaldo
3:1 - Marques
4:1 - Marques

Flamengo 1:0 Atletico Mineiro
1:0 - Liedson

Free Qualification: Gremio Sao Paulo

Semi Final
Corinthians 2:0 Atletico Mineiro
1:0 - Guilherme
2:0 - Deivid

Gremio 2:1 Sao Paulo AET
1:0 - Luis Mario
1:1 - Renaldo
2:1 - Luis  Mario

FINAL
Corinthians 1:0 Gremio
1:0 - Guilherme

Top Scorers:
Guilherme (Corinthians) - 7
Deivid (Corinthians) - 5
Joaozinho (Cruzeiro) - 4

MVP
Guilherme (Corinthians)

CORINTHIANS WILL REPRESENT BRAZIL IN THE FINAL