Flamengo overcame the dismissal of Ronaldinho to move level at the top of the Campeonato Brasileiro with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Ceara.
The Rio de Janeiro giants are now level 51 on points with rivals Corinthians and Vasco da Gama, albeit having played a game more than the top two.
The win came despite star man Ronaldinho, recently recalled to the national team, being dismissed in the 51st minute. After Deivid put Fla ahead four minutes before the break, Ronaldinho became embroiled in an incident with Ceara's Heleno after the break which saw both men sent off.
In added time, Ceara also had Filho Oswaldo sent off.
Saturday night's other game saw Figueirense beat America 2-1 at home as Julio Cesar scored two late goals. Rodriguinho had put the visitors ahead in the first half.
