Flamengo failed to replicate its recent performances at Maracanã and lost 1-0 to Vitória this Sunday in Rio de Janeiro. Despite the negative result, the Rio de Janeiro club maintained its lead in the Brazilian Championship with 26 points, one point ahead of second-place Grêmio.

On the field, the game started fairly evenly, with the Bahia team playing tight at the back, making it difficult for Flamengo to attack. Vitória had the first good chance of the game, with Dinei heading dangerously in the 13th minute. Five minutes later, Tardelli had a chance to open the scoring, but he misplaced his control in the penalty area.

Caio Júnior's team struggled to attack down the wings, making things easier for Vitória's defense. Flamengo's coach tried to inject some creativity into the midfield by taking off Cristian and bringing on young Erick Flores. In the Gávea team's last good moment of the first half, Fábio Luciano tried a shot from the edge of the box, but the ball sailed over Viáfara's goal.

Flamengo returned with Éder replacing Souza for the second half. In the first minute, Éder sent a cross-shot and Diego Tardelli scored, but assistant coach Márcia Bezerra wrongly disallowed the goal. Three minutes in, Diego Tardelli burst into the box and sent a cross-shot, forcing Viáfara to make a good save.

In the ninth minute, Dinei received the ball from Marquinhos and tapped it past Bruno: 1-0 Vitória. With the score down, Caio Júnior brought on Obina for Jônatas.

In the 25th minute, Viáfara missed, and Obina nearly equalized. Four minutes later, Willians headed dangerously just wide of Bruno's post. In the 36th minute, Éder fired a low shot from the edge of the box, but the ball skimmed the post. In the end, Obina shot wide of Flamengo's last chance of the game.

In the next round, Wednesday, July 23, Flamengo faces Portuguesa, at Canindé.

TECHNICAL SHEET\ FLAMENGO 0 x 1 VICTORY\

Location: Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)\ Date/time: 20/7/2008 - 18:20 p.m. (Brasília time)\ Referee: Elmo Alves Resende Cunha (GO)\ Income/attendance: 681.802,00 / 41.827 pages.\ Yellow cards: Erick Flores (FLA); Thiago Gomes, Anderson Martins (VIT).\ GOAL: Dinei, 9'/2nd half (0-1);\

FLAMENGO: Bruno, Léo Moura, Fábio Luciano, Dininho and Egidio; Jaílton, Cristian (Erick Flores, 30'/1st half), Jônatas (Obina, 23'/2nd half) and Ibson; Diego Tardelli and Souza (Éder, half-time). Coach: Caio Júnior.

VICTORY: Viáfara, Marco Auréilo, Thiago Gomes, Anderson Martins and Daniel; Marco Antônio, Renan, Ramon and Williams (Jackson, 38'/2nd half); Dinei and Marquinhos (Wallace, 38'/2nd half). Coach: Vágner Mancini.

photo: lancenet.com.br