O Globo online
Flamengo defeats Paraná and breathes in the Brazilian Championship
Placar Agency\ O Globo Online\
RIO - Flamengo is breathing a sigh of relief in the Brazilian Championship. With a second-half header from Fábio Luciano, the Red-Black team defeated Paraná 1-0 in Curitiba, reaching 43 points and moving further away from the relegation zone. Paraná, which saw the debut of coach Saulo de Freitas, has inched ever closer to relegation - check out the standings.
In the next round, Paraná travels to São Paulo, where they face Palmeiras, on Saturday (20), at 18:10 pm. Flamengo returns to Maracanã, on Thursday, for the classic against Vasco - click here and see Flamengo's goal.
The first few minutes of the match were marked by caution. Both teams were quite defensive, limiting themselves to plays in the middle of the field and committing a lot of fouls, without managing to create any effective goal-scoring opportunities.
Taking advantage of Paraná's drop in pace, Flamengo tried to regain control of the game, but, like their opponent, they lacked creativity in attack. Given the poor performance, the fans began booing for the first time in the 37th minute.
The outcry roused Paraná, who created the first good chance in the 38th minute. Paulo Rodrigues ran down the left and crossed into the box. Josiel controlled the ball and set it up for Batista, who shot dangerously wide.
The game improved in the final minutes, with chances aplenty. In the 43rd minute, Josiel received the ball on the left side of the box and unleashed a powerful shot. Goalkeeper Bruno made a great save. Flamengo responded with a vengeance. A minute later, Souza met Juan's excellent cross and headed it into the corner. Flávio pulled off a miracle and saved Paraná.
In the second half, in the eighth minute, Léo Medeiros replaced Maxi Biancucchi. In his first play, the player pushed Paraná's Adriano in the penalty area, and the referee awarded a penalty. The championship's top scorer, Josiel, took a poor shot, and goalkeeper Bruno saved it in the 11th minute.
After the penalty, the game's fortunes turned in Flamengo's favor. In the 13th minute, Adriano violently challenged Juan and was sent off. Flamengo capitalized and opened the scoring four minutes later. Juan lifted a free kick into the box, Flávio was out of position, and Fábio Luciano headed in to make it 1-0.
In desperation, Paraná hammered until the end, searching for an equalizer. However, with a man down, they couldn't break through Flamengo's strong defense.
Sports Journal
A victory for the red-black race
Fla beats struggling Paraná, climbs to eighth place and reaches the South American zone
Alexandre Guimarães and Thiago Bokel
Playing forward once again, Ibson fought hard but didn't create any attacking options.
The writing is finished. After five months without a win on the road, Flamengo finally got a positive result. And the opponent couldn't have been better: Paraná—a direct rival in the relegation battle. The slim 1-0 victory gave the team greater peace of mind as they prepared for the derby against Vasco on Thursday.
In addition to moving away from the relegation abyss, they reached the Copa Sudamericana qualifying zone, rising from 14th to eighth place. It's worth noting that Flamengo has a game in hand over its competitors. If it wins the derby against Vasco da Gama next Thursday, it will overtake Sport and move into seventh place in the Brazilian Championship.
With two teams clearly missing a creative player, the first half was miserable. The Durival de Brito pitch contributed to the poor football, and the game was limited to crosses. On one such play, Josiel received a free kick in the box, but when he went to head the ball, he was unlucky and sent it over the goal.
Flamengo, despite not playing with the three-man defense they had adopted in recent games, was unable to create chances. Ibson and Toró were too far from the attackers, and as a result, the team couldn't threaten the opposing defense. The first good move came when Argentine Maxi Biancucchi broke from midfield and found Souza, who shot wide at the edge of the box. Souza then dribbled past the defender but shot inaccurately.
The most dangerous chances came right at the end of the first half, when Josiel's shot from outside the box forced a good save from Bruno. The red-and-blacks' response came soon after: Juan delivered a perfect cross to Souza, who missed a fantastic opportunity, shooting straight at goalkeeper Flávio.
Poorly Called Penalty\ While the first half was technically weak, the second half was packed with action. In the fourth minute, goalkeeper Bruno glanced at a cross from Léo Mattos and nearly conceded a goal. The ball went just wide of the crossbar.\
Five minutes later, referee Alício Pena Júnior awarded a non-existent penalty to Adriano, who had just come on as a substitute. After much confusion, Josiel's poor shot was met with a redemption from the number 1, who made a crucial save that secured Flamengo's victory.
In the 12th minute, Adriano, already on a yellow card, fouled Cristian and was sent off. Taking advantage of their numerical superiority, Flamengo found their goal: Juan took the free kick, and Fábio Luciano headed it in, giving Flávio no chance to save it, but he managed to touch the ball.
Paraná still had a good chance when Éverton burst into the box and forced Bruno into another great save. Even though they weren't playing well, Flamengo won the way their fans like: through grit.
Paraná x Flamengo
Paraná: Flávio, Léo Mattos, Nem (Daniel Marques), Neguette and Paulo Rodrigues; Adriano, Goiano, Batista and Éverton (Giuliano); Vinicius Pacheco (Lima) and Josiel.\ Coach: Saulo de Freitas\
Flamengo: Bruno, Leonardo Moura, Fabio Luciano, Ronaldo Angelim (Thiago Sales) and Juan; Romulo, Cristian, Ibson (Luizinho) and Toró; Maxi (Leo Medeiros) and Souza.\ Coach: Joel Santana\
Location: Durival de Brito, Curitiba\ Referee: Alício Pena Júnior (MG)\ Assistants: Carlos Berkenbrock (SC) and Nilson Alves Carrijo (DF)\ Yellow cards: Ronaldo Angelim, Fábio Luciano, Léo Medeiros, Rômulo, Paulo Rodrigues, Nem, Vinícius Pacheco and Goiano Red card: Adriano\ Revenue and attendance: R$113.310,00 / 10.606 paying spectators\ Goal: Fábio Luciano, 17 minutes into the second half\
Bruno, the character in the red-black victory
Once again, Flamengo can credit goalkeeper Bruno for their strong result. With solid saves, he was instrumental in the team's return to winning ways away from home after a five-month drought. In addition to his solid performance, the number 1 also managed to capture the spotlight 11 minutes into the second half.
With the match still tied, referee Alício Pena Júnior awarded a penalty to Léo Medeiros on Adriano. Luckily for the Flamengo fans, a great goalkeeper stood between the posts. Although Josiel, the Brazilian Championship's top scorer, made a poor penalty, Bruno had the merit of anticipating the corner kick and making a crucial save.
From then on, the game's landscape changed, and Flamengo began to dominate. But it's important to note that the comeback came through another great performance by Bruno. In the final minutes, with the rain already pouring down in Curitiba, the goalkeeper had the confidence to save a dangerous shot from Batista.
Irritation with the referee in the Fla locker room
Two of Flamengo's main standouts in the victory over Paraná, defender Fábio Luciano and goalkeeper Bruno, made a point of praising each other:
"Congratulations to Bruno, he was crucial in this victory," said the captain — who is suspended and will not face Vasco.
"I'm happy to see the group dedicating themselves like this; because now, every game is a final for us," said Bruno, who has conceded only two goals in the last four matches, specifically in the 2-0 loss to Fluminense. Despite the hard-fought victory, which further distanced the team from the relegation zone, the mood in the locker room was not the best.
Very irritated by the performance of referee Alício Pena Júnior, who awarded a penalty that did not exist for the opponent, vice-president of football Kleber Leite harshly criticized the Minas Gerais native.
"This referee no longer referees Flamengo games. It wasn't the first time he's done this. It was absurd. We're going to protest against him at the CBF," the director raged.
Fábio Luciano: 'Bruno was the real hero'
Flamengo secured a 1-0 away victory over Paraná, which left the team in a better position in the Brazilian Championship. The winning goal was scored by defender Fábio Luciano, who, despite this, doesn't consider himself the hero of the match, giving credit to goalkeeper Bruno, who saved a penalty taken by Josiel.
"I wasn't a hero. The real hero was Bruno, who caught that ball back there. I just deflected the ball and it went in," said the red-and-black captain, showing humility.
For the name of the game, according to Fábio Luciano, the important thing is to help Flamengo leave the field victorious.
"I always hope I can help Flamengo. Everyone is working hard to improve the team's situation in the Brasileirão, and I'm very happy to be able to play a key role in this recovery," Bruno concluded.
Juan will receive a plaque for his 100 games with Fla
Left-back Juan, who reached the 100th appearance mark for Flamengo in the derby against Fluminense, will receive a commemorative plaque from the Urubu Guerreiro faction. The tribute reads: "In just 100 games, you're already part of Flamengo's history."
Flamengo plays with Estácio de Sá in the OPG
Flamengo's youth team will play this Sunday against Estácio de Sá, in Gávea, in the Octávio Pinto Guimarães Tournament (OPG). The match is scheduled for 15 pm. Flamengo leads Group A with six points from three games. Their opponent has the same score but is one place below them in the standings based on goal difference—three to one.
Flamengo seeks new victory
The red-black team faces Club Municipal, in Gávea, in the State Basketball Championship
Ursula Neri
The State Basketball Championship today features a clash of contrasts. Flamengo, in second place with a 100% record, hosts Municipal, second to last in the standings. The match will be at noon at the Hélio Maurício Gymnasium in Gávea.
The disparities don't stop there. The Rubro-Negro, which has a strong sponsor, is the team that spends the most on salaries in the state. Meanwhile, the Tijuca club only secured a sponsorship on the eve of the championship's debut and only has athletes who play solely for the opportunity to gain visibility in the sport and who dream of a chance at a big club.
Given this scenario, it's not difficult to pick a favorite. But for Flamengo's players, it's precisely this favoritism that could count against them. Point guard Duda warned that his team must not forget to respect their opponents. Favorite
"I believe in favoritism, but we have to know how to deal with it. Municipal deserves respect, as they've been doing a good job. It's our first home match, and we're going to take advantage of this advantage. In the match against Fluminense, we made a lot of defensive mistakes, and we're training hard to avoid being surprised," he said.
Coach Paulo Chupeta is also concerned. Flamengo has played only two matches in two weeks (Volta Redonda and Fluminense). The lack of rhythm remains a concern.
"If you compare it to our main title contenders, we're at a disadvantage. We've only played two matches since the start of the season. I'm lucky that the squad is very strong."
Determination\ Municipal coach Marquinhos agrees that the Rubro-Negro has a unique squad. But he made it clear that his team isn't dead.\
"Flamengo is a very strong team with great players. We know the difficulties we will face. We will enter the court with the same desire we showed during the other games to try to surprise."
Flamengo's biggest expectation is to get into game rhythm for the big derby against Vasco on October 28th. The entire rivalry between Rio's most traditional basketball clubs will be on the line. But first, the Red-Blacks must do their homework and win every game.
FLAMENGO: Duda, Marcelinho, Fernando Mineiro, Alírio and Colonese.\ Coach: Paulo Chupeta.\
MUNICIPAL: Guilherme, Douglas, Eduardo, Lucas and Rodriguinho.\ Coach: Marquinhos.\
O Dia
Flamengo beats Paraná and gains distance from the bottom
CURITIBA - It took Flamengo a long time, exactly 146 days, for its second victory on its opponent's home ground. It came this Saturday at Durival de Brito Stadium, where Joel Santana's team defeated Paraná 1-0, with a goal by Fábio Luciano.
With this good result, Flamengo (43 points) moved up to eighth place in the table, entering the Copa Sudamericana qualifying zone. Paraná remained stuck in the relegation zone.
Before scoring the winning goal, Flamengo endured dramatic situations in yesterday's match. Their suffering began in the 20th minute, when Josiel received a lofted ball and, free in the box, shot poorly, over the crossbar. A shock.
In the 43rd minute, top scorer Josiel had another good chance, shooting from the edge of the box. But goalkeeper Bruno would make the first of a series of good saves.
Flamengo's best moment in the game came in the 44th minute, when Juan, in a good individual play, crossed from the left, perfectly placed for Souza to head, but Flávio made an excellent save.
PENALTY AND EXPULSION
The biggest drama was reserved for the second half. In the 10th minute, referee Alício Pena Júnior, much questioned by the club's board, awarded a non-existent penalty by Léo Medeiros—who had replaced Maxi—on Adriano.
Josiel made a quick stop at the time of the penalty, at 11, but Bruno became a hero, making the save with his legs.
Adriano's red card in the 14th minute for a foul on Cristian illuminated Flamengo's path. With an extra man on the field, the team took the lead in the 17th minute: Juan sent a free kick high into the box, and Fábio Luciano rose well to score with a header.
But even with an extra man, Flamengo couldn't finally escape the suffocation. In the 25th minute, Éverton made a beautiful turn, dribbling past Ronaldo Angelim, and narrowly missed scoring the equalizer. It was Bruno's turn to save the team again, with another fine save. All the suffering, in the end, turned to joy. Flamengo climbed the table.
Sports Gazette
Flamengo wins and complicates Paraná's situation
By correspondent Luiz Felipe Fagundes
Curitiba (PR) - Flamengo traveled to Curitiba and spoiled coach Saulo de Freitas' debut at Paraná Clube, sinking the Paraná team even deeper into the Brazilian Championship relegation zone at Vila Capanema Stadium. The Rio de Janeiro team, meanwhile, reached 43 points and, with a game in hand, re-entered the Copa Sudamericana qualifying zone. Flamengo attempted to create their first attacking opportunity in the first minute. Juan took a free kick into the box, but the Paraná defense managed to clear it before Fábio Luciano could arrive. In the seventh minute, Ibson made a good play and set up Leonardo Moura, who headed the ball over the goal line. The pace of the game was slow, with both teams passing the ball around, waiting for a chance to mount an attack.
The Paraná team mounted a strong counterattack in the 14th minute, and Bruno challenged Vinícius Pacheco to save Mengão. In the 20th minute, Everton crossed into the box, Josiel had a clear chance, but headed over the bar, missing the most incredible chance of the first half. Under pressure, Tricolor came close again in the 25th minute, with Vinícius Pacheco shooting dangerously to the left of the goal.
The game was tight, with numerous fouls in midfield. In the 36th minute, Cristian attempted a set piece with a free kick, but the Paraná defense cleared it inside the box. In the 38th minute, Josiel played the pivot and passed it to Batista, who shot wide. In the 43rd minute, Josiel tried a shot from the edge of the box, but Bruno made a great save. On the counterattack, Juan crossed perfectly and Souza headed in from close range, forcing Flávio to save the Tricolor.
In the second half, the match resumed in a choppy fashion, signaling a repeat of the opening 45 minutes. In the fourth minute, Léo Mattos attempted a cross, and the ball nearly deceived Bruno, hitting the net. In the ninth minute, Adriano was pushed in the box, and the referee awarded a penalty to Paraná. Top scorer Josiel's shot was poorly taken, and Bruno made the save. In the 14th minute, Adriano was sent off, leaving Paraná with a man down.
With a man up, Flamengo went on the attack, and in the 17th minute, Juan took a free kick and Fábio Luciano headed it past Flávio to open the scoring. In the 24th minute, Everton tried to settle the matter himself, breaking into the Flamengo box and shooting into the corner, forcing Bruno to make a great save. In the 28th minute, Léo Medeiros took a shot from distance, but the ball went out of bounds.
Paraná was on the back of a strong showing, as they lacked quality in addition to their numerical advantage. In the 34th minute, Lima received the ball in the box but sent the ball over the bar. In the rain, Josiel attempted a volley in the 36th minute, but it didn't threaten Bruno. In the 42nd minute, Juan cut in diagonally and hit a cross that Pantera saved. In the 45th minute, Batista tried to surprise Bruno, but the goalkeeper kept the ball.
In the next round, Paraná Clube will travel to São Paulo to continue its fight to escape the relegation zone, where they will face Palmeiras next Saturday at Parque Antarctica. Flamengo will have its match against Vasco da Gama postponed on Thursday at Maracanã Stadium. In the next round, the match will be against Grêmio on Sunday in Rio de Janeiro.
BalloonSport
Fla gets a tearful victory over Paraná
Cornered in defense most of the time, Mengão 'kills the game' with a goal from Fábio Luciano
The Tricolor's ordeal seems endless. Even playing at Vila Capanema, Paraná Clube failed to assert itself and was defeated by Flamengo 1-0. The Rubro-Negro was far from playing great football, but it was decisive, scoring a devastating goal from defender Fábio Luciano in the second half. Flamengo moves away from the relegation zone and brings the Paraná team ever closer to Serie B.
The red-and-blacks return to action next Thursday in the derby against Vasco da Gama. The Tricolor travels to São Paulo next Saturday to face Palmeiras at the Palestra Itália stadium.
Zero creativity
Game highlights between Paraná and Flamengo
Paraná and Flamengo entered the field with a heavy load on their shoulders. Therefore, it was expected that they would demonstrate much greater desire to defeat their opponents and avoid relegation. What the fans at the Durival Britto stadium saw, however, were two teams lacking any creativity or attacking boldness. While the Tricolor focused their passes on top scorer Josiel, the Rubro-Negros insisted on exploiting the advancement of their full-backs, who were lacking inspiration.
The first good move of the game came in the 20th minute, thanks to a mistake by Flamengo's defense, which missed the offside trap. Josiel found himself free in the six-yard box and headed wide. The Tricolor's other major move didn't occur until the 43rd minute. Josiel received the ball with his back to goal and set up Batista for a sloppy shot. Flamengo's offensive play can be summed up in just one move, in the 43rd minute. Juan broke down the left and crossed for Souza to head home. Goalkeeper Flávio followed the play correctly and saved well in the right corner. And that was it!
Missed penalty, expulsion and red-black goal
The teams returned for the second half with a more aggressive spirit. The first chance at goal resulted from a non-existent penalty kick. In the 9th minute, Paulo Rodrigues advanced down the left and crossed to Adriano, who collided with Leo Medeiros and couldn't reach the ball. Referee Alício Pena Júnior signaled the penalty. Josiel's shot was poorly placed, right into Bruno's hands.
To further complicate their performance, the referee misjudged a foul by Adriano on Cristian in the 13th minute. The player received a second yellow card and was sent off. With an extra man, Flamengo put pressure on the Tricolor and scored the long-awaited goal in the 18th minute. Juan crossed into the box, Flávio came out of goal poorly, and Fábio Luciano headed it in: 1-0. Tricolor still tried to attack, but the Rio de Janeiro team calmly managed the result.
Kléber Leite: 'I want the referee far away from Fla'
Vice President of Football says he will make a representation to the president of the refereeing committee
The victory over Paraná at Vila Capanema failed to assuage Flamengo's vice president of football, Kléber Leite, dissatisfaction with the refereeing by Alício Pena Júnior. The referee awarded a non-existent penalty when Leo Medeiros was challenging for the ball with supporter Adriano, from Tricolor Paraná. Despite the misjudged call, goalkeeper Bruno saved the penalty, and Paraná failed to score against Flamengo in Saturday's match. (Watch highlights from the match)
The Rubro-negro director will make a representation to the president of the national arbitration commission, Sérgio Corrêa, on Tuesday.
"I'm going to make a representation to the president of the refereeing committee (Sérgio Corrêa) asking that this referee be millions of miles away from wherever Flamengo is playing. If the game is in Brazil, he should be in Africa. This is so that he never referees a Flamengo game again," declared Kléber Leite, in an interview with the newspaper "Extra."
Fábio Luciano refuses the title of 'hero'
Scorer of the winning goal against Paraná, the red-black defender praises goalkeeper Bruno
Flamengo secured its first away win under Joel Santana this Saturday. Fábio Luciano, who scored the winning goal in the 1-0 victory over Paraná, said that, despite being responsible for the good result, he can't be considered the hero of the match. (Don't miss Fábio Luciano's goal for Flamengo)
"I wasn't the hero. The real hero was Bruno, who caught that ball back there. I just deflected the ball and it went in," the defender declared about the penalty awarded to the Tricolor Paraná, which Bruno saved.
Paraná striker Josiel took the penalty and the red-black goalkeeper made a great save, 11 minutes into the second half.
"I always hope I can help Flamengo. Everyone is working hard to improve the team's situation in the Brasileirão, and I'm very happy to be able to play a key role in this recovery," says Bruno.
Throw
Flamengo defeats Paraná and breaks the drought
Rubro-Negro hadn't won away from home in 11 games. Meanwhile, Paraná remains in the relegation zone.
Hugo Perruso
Flamengo's long-awaited away victory under Joel Santana in this Brazilian Championship came against Paraná in Curitiba. Playing poorly, Flamengo secured an important result, winning 1-0, with a goal from Fábio Luciano.
With the result, the Rio de Janeiro team jumped to ninth place, with 43 points, while the Paraná team remained in 18th place, with 34.
The first half was worthy of the pitch's condition: appalling. Neither team managed to create any chances, and the match was limited to a contested ball. The only two clear-cut chances didn't come until the 43rd minute. First, Josiel, who took a long-range shot, forced a good save from Bruno. Then, Juan led a counterattack and crossed for Souza to head in, forcing Flávio to work hard.
For Flamengo, with a midfield full of defensive midfielders, Maxi Biancucchi was the only one trying to create something, but without much success. Joel Santana's main weapons, Juan and Léo Moura, barely showed up. For Paraná, Josiel, Vinícius Pacheco, and Batista still tried to make plays, also without success.
One incident clearly demonstrated the complete lack of technique in the first half. Maxi Biancucchi received a pass from the right, tried to stop the ball, and tripped over his own legs, falling to his knees inside the box.
The situation didn't change much in the second half, but at least Paraná pushed forward more, seeking victory. In compensation, Joel Santana took off a striker (Maxi Biancucchi) to bring on a defensive midfielder, Léo Medeiros. The change didn't yield much results, more due to the refereeing than the game itself.
With neither team able to get close to the goal, referee Alício Pena Júnior ended up "helping" by awarding a non-existent penalty to Paraná in the 10th minute. Adriano challenged Léo Medeiros in the air, fell, and the referee called a foul. Josiel's shot was poorly taken, and Bruno saved.
The referee then got into trouble again. Cristian and Adriano exchanged blows, and only the Paraná player was sent off. With an extra man, Flamengo surged forward and scored in the 17th minute the only way they could: from a set piece. Juan took a free kick from the right, and Fábio Luciano headed it past Flávio.
With the score down and needing a win, Paraná attacked in a disorganized manner, leaving gaps in defense. Paraná had two chances, but were thwarted by their players' poor accuracy.
The game is over, and Flamengo ended an 11-game winless streak outside Rio de Janeiro (the last one was in the second round, against Goiás, 3-1, in May). In Paraná, coach Saulo de Freitas debuted with a loss and sees his team close to relegation to the second division in 2008.
Defender Fábio Luciano maintains humility
Scorer of Fla's winning goal says Bruno's participation was superior to his
Defender scored the winning goal against Paraná (Credit: Paulo Sérgio)
Besides his excellent football, Fábio Luciano also draws attention for his polished and coherent statements. This Saturday, the scorer of Flamengo's 1-0 victory over Paraná in the Brazilian Championship went even further. He humbly acknowledged that Bruno's contribution, who saved a penalty, was more important than his own.
Obviously, Fábio Luciano – who received his third yellow card and will be out of the derby against Vasco – did not fail to emphasize the importance of returning from Curitiba with three points and highlighted the participation of the red-black goalkeeper.
"The victory was incredibly important. Congratulations to Bruno. My work was all about the ball, but his was more difficult," he said.
The defender also analyzed the penalty awarded by referee Alício Pena Júnior and wished Paraná a good end to the Brazilian Championship.
"I'm 100% sure it wasn't a penalty. I wish Paraná the best of luck. It's a well-established club, and I hope it stays in the First Division," he said.
Even though he was instrumental in saving a penalty, Bruno preferred to praise the team. The goalkeeper believes that Flamengo will have decisive matches before the end of the Brasileirão.
"The group is giving their all, and this victory was important. From now on, we'll only have decisions to make," he said.
Joel Santana admitted that the victory will bring some peace to Flamengo. He also noted that the team hadn't won away from Rio de Janeiro in a long time and gave a brief analysis of the match.
"The victory gives us some peace of mind, but it's still not what we want. The away win had to happen someday. We had superiority on the field and could have killed the game earlier. But this is better: at Fla, the more we suffer, the better," he revealed.
Léo Medeiros, who came on in the second half and was involved in the play that led to the penalty shortly after, also received his third yellow card. As a result, Joel will no longer be able to include him in the derby. Ronaldo Angelim was injured and will remain under medical evaluation.
Bruno highlights the desire of Flamengo's group
Goalkeeper, who saved a penalty, says the team will now have to make decisions
One of those responsible for Flamengo's 1-0 victory over Paraná, goalkeeper Bruno thanked Fábio Luciano for his praise for saving Josiel's penalty, but highlighted the will of the entire group.
For the goalkeeper, the reason for the victory was not just his defense but what the team demonstrated on the field:
"The group is giving their all, and this victory was important. From now on, we only have decisions to make," he stated.
Next Thursday, Flamengo faces Vasco, at Maracanã, in a game valid for the first round postponed because of the Pan-American Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Fla will have two absences for the classic
Fábio Luciano and Léo Medeiros are suspended and will not play.
Coach Joel Santana will be without two players for Flamengo's derby against Vasco next Thursday. Fábio Luciano and Léo Medeiros received their third yellow cards against Paraná and are suspended.
Fábio Luciano received a yellow card for complaining after the penalty awarded against Flamengo. The defender disagreed with referee Alício Pena Júnior's decision.
- I'm 100% sure it wasn't a penalty - he said.
PeléNet
Bruno saves penalty, Fla beats Paraná and enters the South American zone
From UOL Esporte\ In São Paulo\
Flamengo capitalized on Paraná Clube's lapses this Saturday at Vila Capanema, winning 1-0 to reach 43 points and move into the Copa Sudamericana qualifying zone. With 34 points, the Tricolor sank into the virtual relegation zone thanks to goalkeeper Bruno, who saved a penalty kick taken by Josiel, Paraná's top scorer.
FLA IN THE SOUTH AMERICAN ZONE
This was Rio's second away win in 31 Brazilian Championship matches this season. Prior to the match in Curitiba, the team had only beaten Goiás in May, away from home.
The 15th defeat of the Paraná club marked the debut of coach Saulo de Freitas and kept the team in 18th place, ahead of only Juventude and América-RN.
The first half started at a slow pace, with Flamengo lacking possession and making things difficult for Paraná's defense. In the 20th minute, Josiel capitalized on a lapse in Flamengo's marking, headed in a free kick after a cross, and Bruno made a great save.
Before halftime, center forward Souza returned the favor. He received a perfect assist from Juan, headed the ball firmly, and forced goalkeeper Flávio to perform a miracle to save the Tricolor from Paraná.
The second half saw more action on the field. Just nine minutes in, Adriano fell in the box on Léo Medeiros, and the referee awarded a penalty. Top scorer Josiel attempted a stop-and-go shot, missed, and Bruno fell to the left corner, saving the ball with his leg.
The missed chance destabilized the home side, who lost Adriano to a red card shortly afterward. In the 17th minute, Juan lifted the ball into the box and Fábio Luciano headed it higher than his defenders to make it 1-0 for Flamengo.
The Cariocas took advantage of their superiority to manage the result and the desperation of Paranistas, who went on the attack without success.
Flamengo returns to action next Thursday, facing Vasco at Maracanã in a postponed derby for the seventh round. The Paraná team visits Palmeiras in a week's time at Palestra Itália.
Bruno praises the dedication of Flamengo's players
From the Placar Agency\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Bruno emphasized the willingness demonstrated by Flamengo players in the 1-0 victory over Paraná Clube, this Saturday, at Vila Capanema, in the 31st round of the Brazilian Championship.
"Our team is running very hard and this victory was very important for us. We only have decisive matches ahead," he said.
The number 1 was considered by many to be the standout player in Rio's triumph. Bruno saved a penalty taken by striker Josiel in the final stage.
Flamengo's goal scorer highlights Bruno's performance
From the Placar Agency\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Defender Fábio Luciano recognized goalkeeper Bruno's performance in Flamengo's 1-0 victory over Paraná Clube this Saturday at Vila Capanema in the 31st round of the Brazilian Championship. The scorer of the Flamengo goal recognized the merits of the number 1, who saved a penalty taken by striker Josiel.
"It was so important. Congratulations to Bruno for his great performance. He guaranteed our victory," he said.
The victory allowed the Gávea team, momentarily, to take eighth place in the Brazilian Championship, with 43 points, and increasingly away from relegation.