Flamengo tried hard, but failed to return from Salvador with their first victory in the 2010 Brazilian Championship. The reigning champions, Flamengo opened the scoring against Vitória at Barradão, but conceded a late equalizer and were held to a 1-1 draw, just as they had in their debut against São Paulo at Maracanã. Vagner Love scored the goal for the team from Gávea, and Elkeson scored for the home team.

Rubro-Negro returns to the field for the Brazilian Championship on Sunday (23.04), when they host Grêmio Prudente at Maracanã. Before that, however, the team plays its most important game of the season, against Universidad de Chile, in the quarterfinals of the Copa Santander Libertadores, Thursday, at 22:15 pm, in Santiago.

Lightning goal and soaked field
If in the last three games coach Rogério Lourenço had seen his team lose focus in the opening minutes of play, against Vitória that changed completely. With a vengeance from the referee's whistle, Flamengo showed they were truly serious about the match. Just one minute into the match, Adriano burst into the box and shot hard, but Vinícius saved. After two minutes, however, there was no way out. The same Adriano crossed to Vagner Love, who challenged the goalkeeper and pushed the ball in: 1-0.

And the Empire of Love remained inspired. Not even the heavy rain that battered the Barradão pitch dampened the players' spirits or the fans' spirits. In the 13th minute, Kleberson crossed to Love, who set up Adriano to turn inside the box. But the defense cleared it. Twenty minutes later, it was Vinícius' turn to make a great save from Vagner Love's shot. The rain then stole the show. The ball stopped rolling, and good chances came only from crosses, like Michael's cross to Love in the 44th minute. The striker attempted a volley, but it missed, and the score remained unchanged at the end of the first half.

Tie at the end
The second half began with Vitória determined to turn the game around and with fewer puddles on the pitch. With more possession, the Lion controlled the game but created few chances. Meanwhile, Flamengo tried to counterattack. The first big chance of the second half fell to the home side. In the eighth minute, Junior's header hit Bruno's left post. And they threatened again in the 26th minute. After a corner kick, Gabriel appeared unmarked in the box and shot wide.

Flamengo nearly scored next. An idol for both teams, Petkovic came on in the 28th minute to replace Vagner Love and found a good low cross for Adriano in the 30th. The Emperor dove for the ball but couldn't connect. The game already seemed set when, in the 40th minute, a perfectly taken free kick by Elkeson gave Vitória the equalizer. Petkovic still had a chance to turn the game around in the 44th, but shot wide after Vinícius's exit, leaving the score at 1-1.

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TECHNICAL SHEET
VICTORIA-BA 1 X 1 FLAMENGO

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Stadium: Barradão, Salvador (BA)
Date/Time: 15/05/2010 - 18:30 PM
Referee: Paulo Cesar Oliveira FIFA/SP
Assistants: Marcio Luiz Augusto (SP) and Vicente Romano Neto (SP)
Yellow cards: Vilson, Neto Berola and Elkesson (Vitotia)

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Goals: Vagner Love, 2'/1st half (0-1), Elkesson, 40'/2nd half (1-1)

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Coach: Ricardo Silva.

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FLAMENGO: Bruno; Léo Moura, David, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Toró (Maldonado, 40'/2nd half), Willians, Kleberson and Michael (Fierro, 22'/2nd half); Vagner Love (Petkovic, 28'/2nd half) and Adriano. Coach: Rogério Lourenço.