Flamengo debuts with 3-2 win in Rio championship

Posted Monday, January 18, 2010 by AP

SAO PAULO (AP)—Chile defender Gonzalo Fierro and veteran midfielder Kleberson scored a goal each to help Brazilian champion Flamengo beat Duque de Caxias 3-2 in the opening round of the Rio de Janeiro state tournament on Sunday.

Flamengo came back from a 1-0 halftime deficit to win the match on an 86th-minute winner by substitute midfielder Fernando at Maracana stadium.

It was Flamengo’s first match since clinching its sixth Brazilian title— its first since 1992—in the final round of the national league in December.

It got the win despite playing without its top two players from last year’s title campaign—striker Adriano and Serbian midfielder Dejan Petkovic, who are still not fit. Recently signed striker Vagner Love also did not play.

Brazil’s most popular club, Flamengo is focused on the Copa Libertadores, a competition it hasn’t won since its lone title in 1981.

Defender Maurinho, a former Flamengo player, put Duque de Caxias ahead with a left-footed shot in the 15th. Kleberson—a starter for Brazil when it won the 2002 World Cup—equalized from close range in the 50th, and Chile international Fierro gave Flamengo the lead from inside the area just three minutes later.

Flamengo went a man down in the 60th after defender Alvaro was ejected for a hard foul, and Duque de Caxias took advantage to level the score with a goal by substitute striker John in the 80th.

Fernando sealed Flamengo’s victory with a header off a corner taken by Kleberson.

Flamengo has won the last three Rio de Janeiro titles. The competition is divided in two stages, with the winner of the Guanabara Cup, which just started, meeting the champion of the Rio Cup for the overall title.

Fluminense, which just escaped relegation in the Brazilian league last year, opened with a 3-0 win over Americano in Campos. Americano played with 10-men from the 30th minute because of an ejection.

On Saturday, Argentine striker Herman Herrera scored with a header just two minutes into the match and Botafogo defeated Macae 3-2 in Campos. Vasco beat Tigres 1-0 in Sao Januario with a goal by right back Fagner, whose long free-kick cross went straight into the net.

Recently promoted America, with former Brazil striker Bebeto debuting as a coach, fell 2-1 at Madureira. Bebeto teamed up with Romario to help Brazil win the 1994 World Cup in the United States.

In the Sao Paulo state tournament, defending champion Corinthians was held to a 1-1 draw with Monte Azul in Ribeirao Preto on Sunday.

Former Boca Juniors playmaker Pedro Larley, acquired for the 2010 season, put Corinthians on the board with a close-range header in the 15th.

Monte Azul, playing in the Sao Paulo state first division for the first time, equalized with a header by Borebi off a corner three minutes later.

Corinthians played without veterans Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos, who are still not fit. Recently signed defender Roberto Carlos is expected to debut on Wednesday, but it remains unclear when Ronaldo will play.

Corinthians, in its centennial year, is also focused on the Copa Libertadores, the only major competition the popular club is yet to win. It will begin its campaign in the Latin American tournament on Feb. 24.

Sao Paulo lost 3-1 to Portuguesa at Morumbi stadium despite opening the scoring with a long-range goal by former Wolfsburg midfielder Marcelinho Paraiba, one of the team’s top acquisitions for 2010. Striker Heverton scored two of Portuguesa’s second-half goals.

Sao Paulo goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni missed a penalty kick when the match was scoreless.

Santos downed Rio Branco 4-0 in Americana behind a pair of goals each from Neymar and Paulo Henrique.

The match marked the debut of former Barcelona and Brazil midfielder Giovanni with Santos. The 37-year-old playmaker was Santos’ top player in the 1990s before moving to European football.

Also, Sao Caetano defeated Paulista 2-0 in a match in which Paulista had two players shown red cards by the 55th minute and another sent off in the 85th.

Palmeiras began with a 5-1 thrashing of Mogi Mirim on Saturday at Palestra Italia stadium in Sao Paulo. Playmaker Diego Souza scored twice for the 2008 champion.

Palmeiras donated part of the money from ticket sales to survivors of the earthquake in Haiti.

Ituano, whose president is former Middlesbrough player Juninho Paulista, routed Mirassol 4-0 in Itu. Juninho was a member of Brazil’s team which won the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan.

The 36-year-old playmaker will play for Ituano, which will also count on 33-year-old defender Roque Junior, Juninho’s teammate at the 2002 World Cup.