RIO DE JANEIRO, July 21 -- Under command of interim head coach Osmar Loss, Internacional came-from-behind on the road against Avai to win 3-1 in the 11th round of the Brazilian Championship on Thursday.
The win snaps a three-game losing streak at Internacional that consequently led to the dismissal of head coach and club idol Paulo Roberto Falcao.
Avai scored the game's first goal by way of penalty. In stride towards the Internacional goal, William was tackled by fullback Bolivar, amounting to a penalty kick in the 45th minute. William shot the ball to the right corner of the goal, but goalie Muriel was able to defend the kick. On the rebound, William followed his own shot on fired the ball into the open net.
Returning to the second half, Leandro Damiao commanded Internacional's comeback. The player gave an assist to Andrezinho in the 65th minute, tying the match. Damiao then scored the go-ahead goal in the 69th minute, redirecting a crossed ball that sailed past keeper Felipe. Damiao then dished out another assist in the 90th minute, finding a trailing D'Alessandro on a fast break to score Internacional's third goal.
Damiao celebrated his first goal in the last four games and the team was able to win its first match in four games. The victory provisionally takes Internacional to fifth place with 18 points. The team will likely drop in the standings after the completion of the 11th round on July 23 and July 24. Internacional returns to the Brazilian Championship on July 31 at home against Atletico-GO. First, the team will travel to Germany to participate in the four-team tournament, the Audi Cup.
Avai remains in a precarious 18th place with seven points and stands to drop in the ranks depending on the result of America-MG's match with Figueirense on July 24. Avai's next match will be on the road against Botafogo on July 27.