MATCH ANALYSIS18/07/06, 14h08

Coritiba wins and is back on track

Playing home, Coritiba won again after four unfortunate rounds. With this result, the green-and-white team is now back to the classification zone

Brazilian 'Serie A' and 'Serie B' leagues have been showing great balance untill now. The points system makes each game important and each victory priceless. With last saturday result, Coritiba gained 3 positions and occupies fourth place now, with 19 points, just like third placed, Sport, also with 19. Nautico confirmed their leadership by beating the same Sport and keeps the 4-points distance to Coritiba, with 23. Second placed is Avai, with 22. Paulista, Coritiba's opponent, is in 10th place.

Paulo Bonamigo's team didn't show a cumpliment-worthy football, but the victory was very important. A positive change was the team's force of will. The players were very foccused, showing strength and stubbornness. Cristian and Jackson appearances in the midfield gave more quality to the sector and Anderson Gomes once again played a good match. The counter-attacks were well done, in a good presentation from right-back Luis Paulo.

Although, some defensive mistakes could still be seen. The crosses still worries the supporters and some defense positionings must be analyzed

The first half had a frenetic start. In the first minute of the match, Anderson Gomes took a strong shot, but the goalkeeper made a good save. The rebound was caught by Jackson, who made an incredible left-foot shot, scoring Coritiba's first goal of the match: 1-0.

The greeners kept on pressing the opponent's defense. Henrique missed the goal with a header at the 8th minute and Jefferson's shot was blocked at the 12th.

In their first real attack, Paulista tried a shot with Guaru, but Artur saved. Two minutes later, Coritiba's Cristian took a long pass for Jefferson, but the center-forward couldn't shoot it well, wasting good chance of scoring the second.

At the 30th minute, the improbable happened: after an apparently harmless corner kick, the ball hits Paulo Miranda's arm and the refferee, Rosnei Hoffmann, points the penalty. The supporters were just seeing the other matches drama repeated. Coritiba's former defender Anderson put the ball just perfectly in Artur's high right side. That was Paulista's equaliser, 1-1.

After the penalty, the game became thougher. But just after a couple of Paulista tries, Cristian received by the area mark and took just another amazing shot, for the almost 8 thousand fans' joy. Coritiba 2-1 and the supporters' relief.

In the second half, things changed a little bit. Paulista was eager to find the equaliser and Coritiba was doing a good defensive job, trying to surprise in counter-attacks, and always leading danger to visitors' goalkeeper, Victor.

Coritiba was working in the defensive field, searching the best opportunity of attaking quickly. Anderson Gomes, Luis Paulo and Jackson played well this half and Cristian, who had been the best player in first half, got tired.

In one good counter-attack chance, Jefferson made a brilliant one-two play and crossed low inside the area for Anderson Gomes, who hit the post with the goalkeeper already beaten. Three minutes later, Luis Paulo received a perfect pass in front of the opponent's goal. The side-back preferred an assist for Jefferson, which was blocked, and wasted an excelent scoring opportunity.

Cristian, who was exhausted, was replaced by Caio, who maintained the same pattern in the midfield.

Paulista had more control of the ball in second half, but could not create any incisive chances. Coritiba, on the other side, exploring counter-attacks, was more effective than the visitors.

Bonamigo decided to try young left-back Carlao, replacing Ricardinho, but the player had little time to show his qualities. Anyway, he had time enough to suffer the ugly foul that led to Marcos Vinicius red card.

Paulista tried some shower crosses into the area, but the defenders had no problems to clear the ball and control the game untill the refferee blowed the final whistle.

Despite showing worse football in second half, Bonamigo's team conquered the necessary result and created more chances than the opponent.

Next saturday, Coritiba will meet their fans once more. This time, against Vila Nova, 12th placed with 15 points. Paulista will go to Machadao Stadium, in Natal (RN), to challenge America.

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