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Here is a summary of the 2005 season. See the final standings, leading goalscorers and the season's biggest news stories. League Champions: Corinthians Final Brasileiro Standings POS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. TEAM Corinthians (L) Internacional (L) Goiás (L) Palmeiras (L) Fluminense (SA) Atlético-PR (SA) Paraná (SA) Cruzeiro (SA) Botafogo (SA) Santos (SA) São Paulo (L) Vasco (SA) Fortaleza Juventude Flamengo Figueirense São Caetano Ponte Preta Coritiba (R) Atlético-MG (R) Paysandu(R) Brasiliense(R) J 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 V 24 23 22 20 19 18 17 17 17 16 16 15 16 15 14 14 14 15 13 13 12 10 E 9 9 8 10 11 7 10 9 8 11 10 11 7 10 13 11 10 6 10 8 5 11 D 9 10 12 12 12 17 15 16 17 15 16 16 19 17 15 17 18 21 19 21 25 21 GP-GC 87-59 72-49 68-51 81-65 79-70 76-67 59-51 73-72 57-56 68-71 77-67 74-84 58-64 66-72 56-60 65-72 54-60 63-80 51-60 54-59 63-92 47-67 P 81 78 74 70 68 61 61 60 59 59 58 56 55 55 55 53 52 51 49 47 41 41 (L) = Qualifiers for the 2006 Copa Libertadores (SA) = Qualifiers for the 2006 Copa Sul-Americana (R) = Relegated from Serie A To Top Top Ten Leading Scorers 1 Name: Romário Club: Vasco Goals Scored: 22 2 Name: Róbson Club: Paysandu Goals Scored: 21 3 Name: Tevez Club: Corinthians Goals Scored: 20 4 Name: Alex Dias Club: Vasco Goals Scored: 19 4 Name: Borges Club: Paraná Goals Scored: 19 4 Name: Rafael Sobis Club: Internacional Goals Scored: 19 7 Name: Enílton Club: Juventude Goals Scored: 18 7 Name: Marcinho Club: Palmeiras Goals Scored: 18 7 Name: Souza Club: Goiás Goals Scored: 18 10 Name: Gabriel Club: Fluminense Goals Scored: 16 10 Name: Kelly Club: Cruzeiro Goals Scored: 16 10 Name: Rinaldo Club: Fortaleza Goals Scored: 16 10 Name: Tuta Club: Fluminense Goals Scored: 16 14 Name: Edmundo Club: Figueirense Goals Scored: 15 14 Name: Lima Club: Atlético-PR Goals Scored: 15 16 Name: Alex Alves Club: Botafogo Goals Scored: 14 16 Name: Finazzi Club: Atlético-PR Goals Scored: 14 16 Name: Juninho Paulista Club: Palmeiras Goals Scored: 14 19 Name: Fernandão Club: Internacional Goals Scored: 13 19 Name: Washington Club: Palmeiras Goals Scored: 13 21 Name: Amoroso Club: São Paulo Goals Scored: 12 22 Name: Renato Club: Flamengo Goals Scored: 12 To Top Corinthians Crowned Brasileiro Champions Corinthians are the 2005 Brasileiro champions. Despite losing 3-2 against Libertadores qualifiers Goiás, the 'Big Team's' only remaining challengers going into the final round - Internacional - lost 1-0 at Coritiba. While Corinthians were celebrating their fourth Brasileiro title, their archrivals Palmeiras were too rejoicing, after achieving qualification to the 2006 Copa Libertadores. Needing the three points to attain the elusive fourth spot, at the expense of their final round opponents Fluminense, Emerson Leão's green army twice came from behind and with the help of an own goal from Flu's 'star of the season' Petkovic, managed to complete a 3-2 victory over the Rio de Janeiro side. Correa netted the winning goal ten minutes from time. Despite beating Internacional, Coritiba were unable to avoid relegation from the Brazilian top flight, due to the fact that São Caetano and Ponte Preta both attained victories, against Cruzeiro and Brasiliense respectively. The Coxa will join Atlético-MG, Paysandu and Brasiliense in the 2006 Serie B. The final significant battle for places saw Botafogo and Fortaleza go head-to-head for a place in next year's Copa Sul-Americana tournament. And it was Botafogo who emerged victorious, goals from Caio and Reinaldo securing a 2-0 win over Fortaleza. Finally, the legendary Romario added to his notable list of conquests. The 39-year-old's double against Paraná saw him finish the campaign on 22 goals, surpassing Róbson of Paysandu - the long-term leader in the scoring charts - to clinch the artileiro award. His brace also helped Vasco win 3-1, to finish in twelfth position in the standings. The Rio big guns are now in with a strong chance of playing in the 2006 Copa Sul-Americana, as eleventh-placed São Paulo are unable to participate in the competition due to their involvement the 2006 Libertadores Cup, which they qualify for as defending champions. To Top Futebol: The Brazilian Way of Life Email: Copyright © 2005 by Alex Bellos. Published by Bloomsbury, New York and London. Distributed to the trade by Holtzbrinck Publishers.