Flamengo and Vasco draw at Engenhão

Rubro-Negros, with an extra player, press until the end, but the score remains 1-1

By From the official website team - in 24/10/2010 às 20:23

Another classic, another draw. The routine of duels between Rio teams in the 2010 Brazilian Championship had another chapter this weekend. Flamengo fell behind on the scoreboard, but capitalized on their numerical superiority in the second half to snatch a 1-1 draw against Vasco da Gama this Sunday at the Engenhão stadium. Cesinha scored Vasco's goal, and Renato scored for the red-and-blacks.

The Gávea team remains in 13th place with 38 points, the final spot for clubs that would qualify for the 2011 Copa Sudamericana. Flamengo's next challenge is Wednesday at 22 p.m., again at the Engenhão stadium. The result also means Flamengo finishes 2010 without losing a single match to its biggest rival.

Vasco opens the scoring with an "unusual" goal
Flamengo failed to impose its style in the first half of the derby. Vasco started better, with more possession and relying on Eder Luis's speed to give the red-and-black defense trouble, especially in the opening 15 minutes. Gradually, the team from Gávea began to level the playing field, and the game began to take on the feel of a derby.

The fans started to get a little more excited, the plays became a bit more rough, and the usual complaints about the refereeing began. In this scenario, Flamengo even had good chances to score, with Kleberson heading in in the 16th minute and Renato scoring from outside the box in the 21st.

But it was Cruzmaltino who opened the scoring. Zé Roberto made a run down the wing in the 26th minute and crossed into the box. The ball hit two Cruzmaltino defenders, hit the crossbar, beat goalkeeper Marcelo Lomba, and fell to Cesinha, who was free, to make it 1-0. The goal ended up slowing the pace of the game somewhat.

Draw with "coach's finger"
Looking to push the team forward a bit, coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo decided to make changes at halftime: he brought on Petkovic for Kleberson. Needing a goal, Flamengo adopted a more attacking stance and attacked Vasco, who, in turn, held onto possession as much as possible, trying to break through on the counterattack.

Fifteen minutes in, Luxa made another bold change: he took off full-back Juan to send in midfielder Marquinhos, putting Renato on the left. Up front, he took off Deivid and brought on Diogo. And the number 43, in his first play of the game, nearly scored with a shot from inside the box, which set the red-and-black fans on fire and the match even more heated in the 21st minute, when Dedé made a hard challenge on Willians and was sent off.

With an extra man on the field, Flamengo pushed forward even more. Luemburgo even switched Leo Moura and Willians' positions on the field, and also moved Marquinhos to play more wide on the left. It worked. The team seized the opportunity they had to equalize in the 35th minute. And the play came precisely from Marquinhos' feet, who delivered a perfect cross for Renato, who headed home to level the score: 1-1. In the end, Flamengo still had a chance to turn the game around, but the score remained tied.

TECHNICAL SHEET
VASCO 1 X 1 FLAMENGO

Stadium: Engenhão, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)
Date/Time: 24/10/2010 - 18:30 PM (Brasília time)
Referee: Gutemberg de Paula Fonseca (RJ)
Auxiliaries: Ediney Guerreiro Mascarenhas (RJ) and Luiz A. Muniz de Oliveira (RJ)

Audience and income: 21.519 (paying), R$ 575.820,00
Yellow cards: Felipe (20'/2nd half) and Marquinhos (37'/2nd half, Eder Luis (37'/2nd half).
Red cards: Dedé (19'/2nd).
GOALS: Vasco: Cesinha (27'/1st half), ; Flamengo: Renato (35'/2nd half)

VASCO: Fernando\ Prass, Fagner, Cesinha, Dedé and Diogo; Rafael Carioca, Romulo, Felipe \ (Felipe Bastos - 28'/2nd half); Ze Roberto (Jadson Vieira 23'/2nd half), Eder Luis\ and Nunes (Renato Augusto 48'/2nd half). Coach: Paulo Cesar Gusmão

FLAMENGO:\ Marcelo Lomba; Léo Moura, Welinton, David and Juan (Marquinhos - \ 16'/2nd half); Maldonado, Willians, Kleberson (Petkovic - half-time), Renato;\ Diego Maurício and Deivid (Diogo - 16'/2nd half).
Coach: Vanderlei Luxemburgo