Sao Paulo lucks out with a 2-2 draw with Sertaozinho
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Sao Paulo collected a 2-2 draw with Sertaozinho which knocked a ball into their own net in Sunday's fifth round in the Sao Paulo state soccer championship.
Sao Paulo head coach Ricardo Gomes opted for a mixed team of starters and reserves in order to preserve and prepare his club for their debut in the 2010 Libertadores Cup on February 10. Only three regular starters played for Sao Paulo on Sunday, including star goalie Rogerio Ceni, Hernanes and Miranda.
All goals in Sunday's game came in the second half. Sertaozinho scored first in the 54th minute when Thiago Silvy tapped in a crossed ball from Mendes.
Sao Paulo responded quickly, scoring in the 56th minute. Off a rebound, Leo Lima controlled the ball and proceeded to bang it into the Sertaozinho net.
Sertaozinho re-claimed the lead in the 62nd minute when Mendes dribbled past a diving Rogerio Ceni and continued to push the ball into an empty Sao Paulo net.
In the 3rd minute of stoppage time, Sao Paulo scored the equalizer. Jorge Wagner sent a stopped ball towards the Sertaozinho net. Sertaozinho's Marcos Vinicius attempted to blast the ball out of danger's way, but the ball took a Sao Paulo bounce and ended up deflecting into the back of his won net, ending the game in a 2-2 draw.
With Gomes's decision to play on the side of caution against the last place team, Sao Paulo now has eight points and sits in 8th place. Sertaozinho remains winless and stands in 19th place with 3 points, running the risk of being lowered into the second division of next year's tournament.
Both teams return to action on February 3 in the sixth round of the Sao Paulo championship. Sao Paulo will travel to play Sao Caetano while Sertaozinho will host Rio Claro.
