Adriano scored twice, including an equalizer in second-half injury
time, to help Flamengo salvage a 2-2 draw against Botafogo on
Sunday in the Rio Cup, the second stage of the Rio de Janeiro state
championship.
At Sao Paulo, Santos thrashed Ituano 9-1 to remain atop the
standings and virtually secure a spot in the semifinals.
Adriano's dramatic equalizer came with a header at the far
post after a free kick into the area three minutes into injury
time. The ball just missed the outstretched arms of goalkeeper
Jefferson and dropped into the far corner.
Flamengo, the defending Rio champion, twice had to come from
behind.
Argentine striker German Herrera opened the scoring for
Botafogo with a controversial penalty kick in the 16th minute.
Midfielder Lucio Flavio appeared to be fouled outside the area in
the play that prompted the penalty, but the referee said he was
inside the box despite heavy complaints from Flamengo players.
Adriano equalized four minutes later from inside the six-yard
box after Jefferson deflected a cross in front of the goal and the
striker just tapped the ball across the goal line.
Herrera added his second goal with a close-range shot in the
55th, completing a cross by right back Somalia.
Adriano scored Flamengo's winner against Vasco last weekend
and his form against Botafogo continued a good run since he took
time out because of personal problems and complaints he has been
unfairly targeted by Brazilian media recently.
The result was enough to give Flamengo first place in Group A
of the Rio Cup after five matches. Botafogo, which played without
suspended Uruguay striker Sebastian "El Loco" Abreu, leads Group B.
Botafogo won the Guanabara Cup, the first stage of the state
tournament. The winners of each stage play for the overall title,
but Botafogo can automatically secure the trophy if it also
clinches the Rio Cup.
America, which has former striker Romario overseeing its
football operations, defeated Boavista 3-2 in Mesquita to move to
second place in Group B, ahead of Vasco, which fell 1-0 to Olaria
in Volta Redonda on Saturday, losing its second consecutive match.
Only the top two in each of the groups will reach the
semifinal stage.
Fluminense, which trails Flamengo in Group A, edged Resende
2-1 in Volta Redonda on Sunday with two first-half goals by striker
Andre Lima, who was replacing injured forward Fred. Resende has
lost all its five Rio Cup matches, being outscored 17-2.
In the Sao Paulo state championship, Santos remained atop the
standings after routing Ituano at Pacaembu stadium.
Ituano scored just a minute into the match, but then it was
all Santos. Striker Andre scored three goals, midfielders Madson
and Paulo Henrique Ganso scored two each, and midfielders Maikon
Leite and Ze Eduardo added one each.
Ituano played a man down for most of the match and had two
other players sent off at the end. Defender Carlos Eduardo was sent
off in the 27th after receiving his second yellow card. Midfielder
Luis Eduardo also was red carded in the 87th, and goalkeeper Saulo
was sent off in the 89th for a foul that prompted the penalty which
gave Santos its ninth goal.
Santos got the win despite playing without its top two
players - Robinho has a minor thigh injury and Neymar was suspended
after being red-carded in the team's 4-3 loss to Palmeiras last
week.
Santos is one of the hottest teams in Brazil right now and
was coming off a 10-0 trouncing of Naviairense in the first round
of the Brazilian Cup just 10 days ago.
Santos has 35 points from 15 matches in the Sao Paulo
tournament, two points more than Santo Andre, which on Saturday
defeated Bragantino 4-1 at home.
Third-place Sao Paulo beat Mogi Mirim 2-0 at Morumbi stadium,
with goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni scoring his 88th career goal with a
first-half penalty.
Corinthians maintained fourth place despite a 2-0 defeat to
Gremio Prudente in Prudente. The defending champion played without
striker Ronaldo, who is being rested for the Copa Libertadores.
On Saturday, 2008 champion Palmeiras lost 2-0 to Ponte Preta
at home, dropping to ninth in the 20-team standings and practically
erasing its chances of reaching the semifinals.
Ponte Preta, which is in eighth place, missed a late penalty
kick at Palestra Italia stadium in Sao Paulo.
