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.
