Corinthians fans turned up in numbers once again on Wednesday, this time in Belem, where they watched their team beat Goias 1-0 to keep their chances of a Copa Libertadores spot very much alive.

The three points takes Corinthians into third place above Atletico-MG and Internacional with just three games left in the season. The top four teams in the Serie A qualify for next year’s Libertadores, a title Corinthians last won in 2012.

The game was a home match for Goias but they moved the game from their home city of Goiania to the Mangueirao stadium in the Amazonian city of Belem. Instead, it ended up more like a home match for Corinthians as thousands of Timao fans packed the terraces to cheer on the side.

It was the visitors who controlled the early spells with more possession and more chances but they could not get a goal to confirm their superiority.

With a half hour gone they turned up the temperature and although a long range-shot from Luciano was easily saved by Renan it was a sign of a more effective push to come, particularly up the right-hand side of the park.

Fagner ran onto a pass after a nice dummy but his shot flashed across the face of the goal in 38 minutes. And two minutes later Felipe got up to meet a Renato Augusto corner only to see his header fly wide.

In 43 minutes, the danger came from Malcom, who crossed from the right. Renato Augusto teed the ball up for Elias but the Brazilian international couldn’t make it count.

Less than 60 second later, however, Corinthians got their reward and the goal came from a corner. Malcom’s centre was met by Felipe Macedo who turned the ball into his own net and gave Corinthians a 1-0 lead at the break.

Things continued in the same vein in the second half with Corinthians dominating the match. Chances were few and far between, with Gil getting forward for a corner but missing his header and the chance to double the visitors’ advantage.

Coach Mano Menezes took off Bruno Henrique and Malcom and replaced them with Danilo and Jadson and Corinthians looked more dangerous, especially through young striker Luciano.

With six minutes left the youngster had a good shot saved by Renan and a minute later the keeper was on hand to thwart him again after he was put clear by Renato Augusto.

Gustavo replaced the busy midfielder in the dying moments and almost got his first professional goal with a cheeky toe poke that Renan did well to stop.

But that was it and Corinthians were delighted to pick up all three points away from home and thus set themselves up for a key match against sixth-place Gremio next week.

The game against one of their main rivals in the hunt for a Libertadores place will take place at the Arena Corinthians on Sunday, kick off 7:30 pm.





GOIÁS 0-1 CORINTHIANS

Brazilian Serie A

Date: 19/11/2014

Venue: Mangueirão, Belém-PA

Referee: Leandro Vuaden (RS)

Goal: Felipe Macedo (GOI) – O.G. 44 mins

Yellow cards: Amaral and Felipe Macedo (GOI)

GOIÁS: Renan; Felipe Macedo (Samuel), Jackson (Alex Alves), Pedro Henrique and Felipe Saturnino; Amaral, Rodrigo, Thiago Mendes, Esquerdinha and Ramon; Erik.

Coach: Ricardo Drubscky

CORINTHIANS: Cássio; Fagner, Felipe, Gil and Uendel; Ralf, Bruno Henrique (Danilo), Elias and Renato Augusto (Gustavo); Malcom (Jadson) and Luciano.

Coach: Mano Menezes