Suarez on target as Gremio stay in title race

Sep 4, 2023 - 15:05

Arena do Gremio v America Mineiro - Arena do Gremio, Porto Alegre, Brazil - June 22, 2023 Gremio's Luis Suarez celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/Diego Vara

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sep. 4 (Xinhua)

Luis Suarez scored his sixth league goal of the season as Gremio rose to third in Brazil's Serie A championship on Sunday with a 2-0 home win over Cuiaba.

The veteran Uruguayan striker opened the scoring on the half hour mark when his left footed shot beat goalkeeper Walter Artune.

Rikelme Rocha gifted the hosts a second goal when he inadvertently turned the ball into his own net just after the hour mark.

The result at Arena do Gremio leaves the Porto Alegre side with 39 points, 12 points behind leaders Botafogo and two points shy of second-placed Palmeiras. Cuiaba are 10th in the 20-team standings with 28 points from 22 matches.

"We know it's difficult, but it's not impossible," Gremio manager Renato Portaluppi said of Gremio's title hopes after the match.

"As long as there are mathematical chances, we are going to keep trying. I've seen so much happen in football and stranger things have occurred."

In other Brazilian Serie A fixtures on Sunday, Palmeiras drew 0-0 at Corinthians, Fluminense won 1-0 at home to Fortaleza, Bahia were held to a 1-1 home draw by Vasco da Gama, Bragantino held hosts Cruzeiro to a goalless draw and America Mineiro prevailed 2-0 at Santos.