RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Promoted Avai ended their incredible first half campaign of the Brazilian soccer championship with a 2-1 victory over Nautico on Saturday.
The victory earned Avai a nine-game undefeated streak and sent them to the fifth place with 30 points.
Avai got on the board first in the 24th minute with an excellently placed kick off a stopped ball from Eltinho.
Nautico tied the game in the 53rd minute when Avai fullback Emerson accidentally headed the ball into the back of his own net. The game appeared that it would end in a draw.
However, Avai midfielder Marquinhos put his team ahead in the 87th minute.
After Avai's offense ricochet the ball off the goalpost on three separate occasions, Marquinhos nailed a one-timer into the Nautico net to give his team the go-ahead goal and the victory.
Avai head coach Silas said his goal of keeping the team in the first division for the 2010 Brazilian Championship is nearly two-third complete.
Before the tournament began, Silas projected that his team would need to accumulate at least 47 points in order to remain in the first division.
With 30 points at the half-way point of the tournament, Silas is pleased with his team's performance and even looks forward to qualifying for the 2010 Libertadores Cup.
Nautico remain in trouble as they sit in 17th place with 18 points and in danger of falling into the second division if they do not turn their performance around in the second half of play.
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