In a closely contested match, Flamengo fought hard but ended up losing 3-2 to Goiás this Wednesday night at Serra Dourada Stadium. The home team took a 2-0 lead with goals from Amaral and Léo Lima, but Flamengo equalized in the second half through Adriano and Petkovic. In the end, Iarley scored to secure the victory for the Goiás team. With the result, Flamengo dropped to tenth place in the Brazilian Championship, with 24 points. In the next round, the team from Gávea faces Corinthians on Sunday at Maracanã.

Flamengo started with Fierro and Denis Marques among the starters. The first good chance of the match came in the 11th minute. Number 10 Felipe Menezes shot from the edge of the box, Bruno parried, and Airton cut it out for a corner. Soon after, Júlio César took a corner from the right, and Amaral, unmarked, headed it into Bruno's right corner: 1-0 Goiás.

In the 18th minute, Adriano left the Goiás defender behind and unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the box. Harlei saved, saving the home team. The match was evenly matched, but referee Heber Roberto Lopes made a mistake, giving Goiás a second lead. After a cross into the box, Léo Lima pushed Willians and shot into Bruno's corner: 2-0.

In the 31st minute, Adriano won a challenge in the penalty area, and the ball fell to Denis Marques. The number 9 shot weakly, and Harlei made a fine save. It was the last good chance of the first half.

Flamengo returned for the second half with Bruno Paulo and Petkovic replacing Denis Marques and Kleberson. The red-and-black team improved significantly and reduced the deficit after just two minutes. Rafael Tolói pulled Adriano down in the penalty area, and the referee awarded a penalty. The number 10 struck with style, scoring his ninth goal of the Brazilian Championship: 2-1.

In the fifth minute, Petkovic took a shot from the edge of the box, but the ball flew just wide of Harlei's post. Flamengo was dominating the match, and a draw was only a matter of time away. In the 33rd minute, Petkovic made a beautiful individual play, beating two opponents, and firing a superb shot into Harlei's left corner: 2-2, and a celebration for the immense Flamengo crowd in the stands at Serra Dourada.

In the 37th minute, Andrade replaced Fierro with Lenon. In the 45th minute, Iarley received the ball from Léo Lima and shot past Bruno, leaving him with no chance: 3-2 Goiás.

CREDITS:

GOIAS 3 X 2 FLAMENGO

Stadium: Serra Dourada, Goiânia (GO)\ Date/time: 05/08/2009 - 21:50 (Brasília time)\ Referee: Heber Roberto Lopes (Fifa-PR)\ Assistants: Ivan Carlos Bohn (PR) and José Carlos Dias Passos (PR)\ Revenue/attendance: R$1.024,680/37.320 paying spectators (42.913 present)\ Yellow cards: Douglas, Ernando, Leandro Euzébio and Léo Lima (GOI); Aírton, Ronaldo Angelim and Fierro (FLA)\ Red cards: -\ GOALS: Amaral, 13'/1st half (1-0); Léo Lima, 23'/1st half (2-0); Adriano, 3'/2nd half (2-1); Petkovic, 33'/2nd half (2-2); Iarley, 45'/2nd half (3-2)\

GOIAS: Harlei, Ernando, Leandro Euzébio and Rafael Tolói; Douglas, Amaral, Fernando (Gomes, 37'/2nd half), Léo Lima, Felipe Menezes (Zé Carlos, 30'/2nd half) and Julio Cesar; Iarley - Coach: Hélio dos Anjos

FLAMENGO: Bruno, Welington, Aírton and Ronaldo Angelim; Léo Moura, Willians, Fierro (Lenon, 37'/2nd half), Kleberson (Petkovic, half-time) and Everton; Denis Marques (Bruno Paulo, half-time) and Adriano - Coach: Andrade