The 2002 Torneio Rio São Paulo was the 26th and the last edition disputed of the Torneio Rio-São Paulo. It was the edition with the most participants involved, and it was expected to be at the top of the pyramid of Campeonato Paulista and Campeonato Carioca.
Participants
Team City Ground Nº participations Best resultAmerica Rio de JaneiroEdson Passos145th (1962)Americano Campos dos GoytacazesGodofredo Cruz1DebutBangu Rio de JaneiroMoça Bonita83rd (1951)Botafogo Rio de JaneiroCaio Martins23Champions: 1962, 1964 (shared), 1966 (shared), 1998 Corinthians São PauloRotative26Champions: 1950, 1953, 1954, 1966 (shared)Jundiaí JundiaíJayme Cintra1DebutFlamengo Rio de JaneiroMaracanã25Champions: 1961 Fluminense Rio de JaneiroMaracanã25Champions: 1957, 1960 Guarani CampinasBrinco de Ouro1DebutPalmeiras São PauloParque Antártica26Champions: 1933, 1951, 1965, 1993, 2000 Ponte Preta CampinasMoisés Lucarelli1DebutPortuguesa São PauloCanindé21Champions: 1952, 1955 Santos SantosVila Belmiro22Champions: 1959, 1963, 1964 (shared), 1966 (shared), 1997 São Caetano São Caetano do SulAnacleto Campanella1DebutSão Paulo São PauloMorumbi25Champions: 2001Vasco da Gama Rio de JaneiroSão Januário26Champions: 1958, 1966 (shared), 1999
Note: Jundiaí is the currently Paulista Futebol Clube. The name Jundiaí FC was used during the Torneio-Rio São Paulo dispute after the end of the partnership with Etti Alimentos.
Format
The first stage was disputed in a single round-robin format. The best four placed clubs advanced to the semifinals and qualified for the 2002 Copa dos Campeões edition. 5th and 6th placed clubs also qualified to the Copa dos Campeões. The worst team from São Paulo was relegated to the 2003 Campeonato Paulista edition and the worst team from Rio de Janeiro was relegated to the 2003 Campeonato Carioca edition.
In the semifinals stage the first placed team into the previous stage played against the fourth placed team, while the second and third best placed teams played between each other. The winners advanced to the finals.
Tournament
Following is the summary of the 2002 Torneio Rio-São Paulo tournament:
First stage
Semifinals
Note: São Paulo advanced due to the best fair play criteria.
Finals
Top scorers
RankPlayerClubGoals1FrançaSão Paulo192DodôBotafogo173RomárioVasco da Gama13WashingtonPonte Preta5Ricardo OliveiraPortuguesa12
Disestablishing of Torneio Rio São Paulo
As from the 2003 season the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A started to be played in a double round-robin format, the lack of available dates caused the end of the Torneio Rio São Paulo, as well as other regional tournaments such as the Copa Sul-Minas and the Copa do Nordeste (later re-established).
The clubs, however, returned to compete normally in the state championships, this being the first competition to be played in the Brazilian football scheduling.
References