The biggest winners in the history of the Brazilian Championship played a game worthy of their traditions this Sunday afternoon at Maracanã. Despite fielding mixed teams, six-time national champions Flamengo and São Paulo played a lively game with good scoring chances in the first round of the 2010 edition of the competition. And the result could not be anything other than a draw. Washington opened the scoring in the first half for Tricolor, and Dênis Marques equalized for Fla in the second half: 1-1.

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This score leaves both teams with one point in the competition. The team from Gávea returns to Brasileirão action next Saturday, against Vitória at Barradão Stadium. Before that, however, the team hosts Universidad de Chile at Maracanã Stadium in the quarterfinals of the Copa Santander Libertadores.

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"We knew it wouldn't be an easy game. We faced São Paulo, which is a great team, and we knew it wouldn't be easy. We started losing, but we know there are no starters or substitutes in this Flamengo group. The entire squad is very good and we'll fight with full force on Wednesday to get a good advantage in the Libertadores," said midfielder Toró at the end of the match.

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Balance and goal at the end
The first half was evenly matched. And contrary to what many might expect, given both teams' lineups, with many defensive players and several substitutes, the match had good scoring chances. The first was for the red-and-blacks. In the fifth minute, Kleberson passed the ball well to Everton Silva, who shot. The ball deflected off the defense and went out for a corner. Shortly after, in the tenth minute, Marcelinho Paraíba responded with a free kick from the right. Bruno rebounded, and Washington nearly scored.

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The game continued to be thrilling, with both teams pushing for the win. But São Paulo was limited by defender David, and Flamengo lacked a bit more coordination between midfield and attack. In the 29th minute, the São Paulo team threatened again with a free kick, this time from Rogério Ceni, who hit the post. Soon after, in the 30th minute, Kleberson, who again demonstrated great motivation and fine football, nearly scored for Flamengo. Despite the action, the game seemed headed for a 0-0 draw in the first half, when, in the 44th minute, Léo Lima provided a three-finger pass to Richarlyson, who headed it past Marcelinho. He crossed into the middle of the box, and Washington simply tapped it in to open the scoring.

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Draw and pressure
After returning from the locker room, coach Rogério Lourenço realized the need to get the ball to the team's only striker, Dênis Marques, and decided to take off midfielder Fernando and send on midfielder Michael. The number 80 only needed six minutes to put his teammate in front of goal. He played a great ball to the center forward, who made no mistake: 1-1. Four minutes later, the scene almost repeated itself, but the number 11 failed to control the ball and missed a good chance to turn the game around.

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The match continued to be exciting, and the foreigner Petkovic nearly scored. Twice. First, in the 20th minute, when he received a great pass from Kleberson inside the box and shot toward goal. The ball deflected off the defense and went out for a corner, which he himself took, hitting the crossbar. On the counterattack, Washington, also free inside the red-and-black box, shot wide. In the 30th minute, Kleberson had another good chance, but the ball went over the goal.

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Soon after, Rogério Lourenço replaced Petkovic with Vinícius Pacheco and Fierro replaced Rômulo, but the rain began to fall heavily, hampering the team's ball control at the Maracanã. Despite their efforts to score a second goal, the team from Gávea failed to turn the game around. In the final minutes, Everton Silva still had a great chance with a header from inside the six-yard box, but he sent it wide, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

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FLAMENGO x SAO PAULO

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Date: 09/05/2010 (Sunday)
Location: Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)
Referee: Leandro Pedro Vuaden (Fifa-RS)
Assistants: Alessandro Álvaro Rocha de Matos (Fifa-BA) and Carlos Berkenbrock (Fifa-SC)
Audience: 7.729 paying spectators (11.195 in attendance)
Income: R$ 221.155,00

Yellow cards: Juan, Everton Silva (FLA); Marcelinho Paraíba, Miranda (SPO)
Goals: Washington, 45 minutes into the first half; Denis Marques, 6 minutes into the second half

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Flamengo - Bruno; Everton Silva, David, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Toró, Romulo (Fierro), Kleberson, Fernando (Michael) and Petkovic (Vinicius Pacheco); Denis Marques. Coach: Rogério Lourenço

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São Paulo - Rogério Ceni; Wellington (Cicinho), Xandão, Miranda and Junior Cesar; Jean, Richarlyson, Cleber Santana and Léo Lima (Hernanes); Marcelinho Paraíba (Marlos) and Washington. Coach: Ricardo Gomes