Classics are always unpredictable. The saying is time-honored, but there's no escaping the mystique surrounding Flamengo vs. Flus. This Sunday (September 19.09), Flamengo and Tricolor played a duel worthy of their traditions at the Engenhão stadium. It was thrilling, with plenty of goals, a packed house, and a tight match until the final minute. And, once again, as is the case with clashes away from their main venue, the Maracanã, the match ended in a 3-3 draw.

Deivid, David and Renato scored the goals for Flamengo, who with the draw remain in 15th place with 27 points. Fluminense, with 42 points, is in second place. In the next round, on Wednesday (22.09), coach Silas' team will travel to Porto Alegre to face Grêmio.

"The champion is back"
Flamengo took the field with a more attacking lineup than the one in their midweek victory over Grêmio Prudente. Coach Silas surprised by keeping Kleberson and removing Correa from the starting lineup. Another change in defense: David came in for Jean. But despite the Rubro-Negro's bolder strategy, Fluminense opened the scoring. Just eight minutes in, Conca took a corner kick to the near post, Washington deflected it, and defender Leandro Euzébio headed it in to make it 1-0.

The goal didn't dampen the Gávea team's spirits, as they pushed for an equalizer. Five minutes later, Leo Moura nearly scored with a free kick from the edge of the Tricolor box. The game continued to be lively, with both sets of fans cheering their teams on. And in the 22nd minute, it was the red-and-blacks' turn, mostly at the Engenhão stadium, to let out a goal cry. Diogo made a great individual play, and the ball fell to Kleberson, who crossed perfectly for Deivid to score his first goal for Flamengo, leveling the score.

If striker Deivid scored the equalizer, his near-namesake, defender David, couldn't help but score. A surprise addition to Silas's lineup, he was the one who scored the winning goal. In the 40th minute, using the same weapon that had scored the Tricolor goal, Renato took a corner kick to the near post, Diogo deflected the ball, and it fell to the red-and-black number 14, sending the red-and-black half of the Engenhão into a 2-1 victory, and the team headed to the locker room chanting "the champions are back!"

Punishment at the end
The second half began a bit more lukewarm, with Fluminense pushing forward more. Trailing, Muricy's team threatened Marcelo Lomba's goal in the 10th minute with Conca and in the 12th with Washington. Flamengo tried to level the score with counterattacks, such as Renato's right-footed shot in the 15th minute, but it was Rodriguinho, in the 19th minute, who found the net and equalized for Fluminense, skillfully beating Marcelo Lomba out of the reach of the ball.

The Tricolor celebration, however, was short-lived. Just a minute later, Renato, just like in the old days, hit a beautiful free kick, powerfully curled into Rafael's top corner, and put Flamengo back in front: 3-2. But once again, Fluminense chased the lead. In the 28th minute, Rodriguinho received the ball unmarked inside the six-yard box to make it 3-3. In the 41st minute, Deivid had two good chances to put Flamengo back in front, but the game ended in a draw.

CREDITS:
FLAMENGO 3 x 3 FLUMINENSE

Stadium: Engenhão, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)
Date/time: 19/9/2010 - 18:30 PM (Brasília time)
Referee: Guttemberg de Paula Fonseca (RJ)
Assistants: Dibert Pedrosa Moisés (RJ) and Ricardo de Almeida (RJ)
Yellow cards: Willians, Jean (Flamengo); Mariano (Fluminense)
Income: 441.430
Paying public: 15.886
Audience: 18.911

GOALS: Leandro Euzébio 9'/1st half (0-1), Deivid 22'/1st half (1-1) and David 39'/1st half, Rodriguinho 18'/2nd half (2-2), Renato 20'/2nd half (3-2), Rodriguinho 27'/2nd half (3-3)

FLAMENGO: Marcelo Lomba, Léo Moura, David (Jean, 23'/2nd half), Ronaldo Angelim and Rodrigo Alvim; Toró, Kleberson (Maldonado, 34'/2nd half), Willians and Renato; Diogo (Diego Maurício, 23'/2nd half) and Deivid. Coach: Silas.

FLUMINENSE: Rafael; Leandro Euzébio, Gum and André Luis (Marquinho, half-time); Mariano, Diogo, Fernando Bob, Conca and Carlinhos; Rodriguinho and Washington. Coach: Muricy Ramalho.