Flamengo provisionally took the lead in the Brazilian Championship with a 2-1 victory over Internacional this Saturday night at Maracanã. Flamengo fell behind but turned the match around in the second half with goals from Marcinho and Souza. In the next round, the team from Gávea faces Fluminense on Sunday at Maracanã.

The Gaucho team started the match better and had the first chance after just eight minutes, with Nilmar's bicycle kick. Three minutes later, the striker again threatened Bruno, this time with a shot from outside the box. Flamengo was misplacing many passes and was unable to create scoring chances.

Bruno saved the red-and-blacks' save from Fernandão's header in the 20th minute. The Gávea team's first good chance came in the 22nd minute, when Léo Moura took a shot from the edge of the box. Renan made a good save.

In the 29th minute, Diego Tardelli made a beautiful play down the right and crossed for Marcinho to shoot, but the ball deflected off the defense. Four minutes later, Nilmar received the ball from Alex and tapped it past Bruno: 1-0 Inter.

With Jônatas replacing Jailton, Flamengo started the second half pressing. In the fourth minute, Fábio Luciano headed the ball, Renan saved it, but Marcinho pushed it into the goal: 1-1 at the Maracanã.

The Flamengo fans grew with the team, and the comeback didn't take long. In the ninth minute, after a great play by Diego Tardelli, Souza broke the deadlock: 2-1 Flamengo. With the goal, the team from Gávea began to exploit counterattacks, and the team from Rio Grande do Sul began to threaten Bruno's goal.

Caio Júnior made changes to his team, bringing on Renato Augusto and Obina to replace Marcinho and Souza. In the 25th minute, Nilmar burst into the box, dribbled past Bruno, and slotted the ball into an empty net. In a superb comeback, Léo Moura saved on the line.

Inter still tried to put pressure on Flamengo, but the red-black team held on to the result and secured three more points in the Brasileirão.

MATCH SHEET: FLAMENGO 2 X 1 INTERNACIONAL Stadium: Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro (RJ) Date/time: 24/5/2008 - 18:10 p.m. (Brasília time) Referee: Evandro Rogério Roman (Fifa-PR) Assistants: Roberto Braatz (Fifa-PR) and José Amilton Pontarolo (PR) Revenue/attendance: R$ 426.566,00 / 27.031 present Yellow cards: Juan, Fábio Luciano, Cristian and Jônatas (FLA); Marcão and Jonas (INT) GOALS: Nilmar, 32'/1st half (0-1); Marcinho, 5'/2nd half (1-1); Souza, 9'/2nd half (2-1)

FLAMENGO: Bruno, Leonardo Moura, Fabio Luciano, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Jaílton (Jonatas, half-time), Cristian, Toró and Marcinho (Renato Augusto, 15'/2nd half); Diego Tardelli and Souza (Obina, 12'/2nd half). Coach: Caio Júnior.

INTERNATIONAL: Renan, Jonas, Índio, Sidnei and Marcão (Gil, 28'/2nd half); Danny Morais (Adriano, 32'/2nd half), Ramon, Ji-Paraná (Andrezinho, 13'/2nd half) and Alex; Nilmar and Fernandão. Coach: Abel Braga Braga.

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