In a fast-paced and tightly contested game, Flamengo and Vitória played to a scoreless draw this Wednesday night at Barradão Stadium. The Rio de Janeiro club reached 56 points in the Brazilian Championship. With the point, Flamengo closed the gap to three points over leaders Grêmio, who lost 3-0 to Cruzeiro.

The match began with both teams launching attacks. Flamengo's first good chance fell to Obina, but goalkeeper Viáfara cleared it for Vitória. Just five minutes in, a lack of energy forced referee Sálvio Espinola to stop the match for 25 minutes. On the break, it was the Bahian team who threatened. Marquinhos took a chance from outside the box, scaring Bruno. Flamengo responded soon after. After Marcelinho Paraíba's cross, Vanderson nearly scored an own goal.

In the 39th minute, Juan made a good play down the left and crossed to Obina, who nearly opened the scoring at Barradão. Seven minutes later, Toró burst into the box from the right but was too slow to shoot, giving Vitória's defense the opportunity to clear for a corner. In the 50th minute, Jackson shot from the edge of the box, but Bruno made a great save. In the 55th minute, Léo Moura received the ball from Kleberson and shot dangerously, in Flamengo's last good chance of the first half.

Vitória came back stronger in the second half and created some good early chances. In the fourth minute, Rodrigão headed dangerously over Bruno's goal. In the eighth minute, Marquinhos received the ball on the left and fired a powerful shot just wide of the post. In the 15th minute, Flamengo wasted a big chance. Marcelinho Paraíba lifted the ball into the box, but Obina missed it in front of Viàfara. Soon after, Caio Júnior took off Marcelinho and brought on the Argentine Maxi.

In the 19th minute, after a good play by Maxi and Ibson, Léo Moura fired over the bar to Flamengo's best chance of the game. In the 23rd minute, Marcelo Cordeiro sent a dangerous cross-shot. Caio Júnior made another change, bringing on Fierro for Ibson. In the 31st minute, the Chilean received the ball from Léo Moura and nearly opened the scoring, but Viáfara was alert and saved the team from Salvador. In the next play, Ronaldo Angelim rose above Vitória's defense and headed the ball just wide of the right post.

In the next round, Flamengo faces Portuguesa, Saturday, at Maracanã.

TECHNICAL SHEET\ VICTORY 0 X 0 FLAMENGO\

Location: Barradão, Salvador (BA)\ Date/Time: 28/10/2008 - 21:50 p.m. (Brasília time)\ Referee: Sálvio Spínola Filho (Fifa-SP)\ Assistants: Marcelino Tomaz Neto (SP) and Marcelo Carvalho Van Gasse (SP)\ Revenue/Attendance: R$ 573.300,00 / 35.000 paying spectators\ Yellow cards: Willians, Jackson, Leonardo Silva, Marco Aurélio (VIT); Kleberson, Obina (FLA)\

VICTORY: Viáfara, Marco Aurélio, Leonardo Silva, Thiago Gomes and Marcelo Cordeiro; Vanderson, Renan, Willians (Ricardinho, 34'/2nd half) and Jackson (Ramon, 16'/2nd half); Marquinhos and Rodrigão (Robert, 35'/2nd half). Coach: Vágner Mancini.

FLAMENGO: Bruno, Jailton, Fabio Luciano and Ronaldo Angelim; Leo Moura, Toro, Ibson (Fierro, 30'/2nd half), Kleberson and Juan; Marcelinho Paraíba (Maxi, 16'/2nd half) and Obina (Vandinho, 39'/2nd half). Coach: Caio Junior.