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Sao Paulo optimistic despite losses
Sao Paulo coach Muricy Ramalho is not worried about the team's three-match losing streak.
- Associated Press
- Updated: October 14, 2007 03:00 PM IST
Read Time:2 min
Sao Paulo:
The Brazilian champions were stunned at home by Colombia's Millonarios 1-0 Wednesday in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana quarterfinals, marking the first time Sao Paulo lost three matches in a row in three years.
The club comfortably leads the Brazilian league with an 11-point advantage over second-place Cruzeiro, but it is coming off 1-0 losses to Flamengo and rival Corinthians.
"In the three matches we lost, none of our opponents played better than we did," Ramalho told the Folha Online news agency. "That needs to be analyzed. Our team is not playing badly."
The loss to Flamengo last week snapped Sao Paulo's 16-match unbeaten streak.
The four-time Brazilian champions played without several key starters against Millonarios, including injured captain goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni and defender Alex Silva, who is with Brazil's squad preparing for the World Cup qualifying.
Sao Paulo dominated the match at Morumbi stadium, but Millonarios substitute midfielder Luis Zapata came off the bench to score the winning goal on a breakaway with six minutes to go.
"The players are tired. They have been feeling the effects of having to play in two competitions at the same time," Sao Paulo midfielder Hugo said.
The team's next match is Saturday against Fluminense at Maracana stadium.
Sao Paulo coach Muricy Ramalho is not worried about the team's three-match losing streak.The Brazilian champions were stunned at home by Colombia's Millonarios 1-0 Wednesday in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana quarterfinals, marking the first time Sao Paulo lost three matches in a row in three years.
The club comfortably leads the Brazilian league with an 11-point advantage over second-place Cruzeiro, but it is coming off 1-0 losses to Flamengo and rival Corinthians.
"In the three matches we lost, none of our opponents played better than we did," Ramalho told the Folha Online news agency. "That needs to be analyzed. Our team is not playing badly."
The loss to Flamengo last week snapped Sao Paulo's 16-match unbeaten streak.
The four-time Brazilian champions played without several key starters against Millonarios, including injured captain goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni and defender Alex Silva, who is with Brazil's squad preparing for the World Cup qualifying.
Sao Paulo dominated the match at Morumbi stadium, but Millonarios substitute midfielder Luis Zapata came off the bench to score the winning goal on a breakaway with six minutes to go.
"The players are tired. They have been feeling the effects of having to play in two competitions at the same time," Sao Paulo midfielder Hugo said.
The team's next match is Saturday against Fluminense at Maracana stadium.
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