In the fight for its third Rio de Janeiro state championship, Flamengo defeated Friburguense 1-0 on Sunday afternoon at the Maracanã stadium. Juan scored the second-half goal in the Flamengo's first victory of the 2009 season. With the result, the team from Gávea leads Group B of the state championship, along with Botafogo, Macaé, and Mesquita. The match marked coach Cuca's return to the team's helm.

The game began with Flamengo dominating the midfield but struggling to penetrate Friburguense's box. The team from the interior of the state was marking with practically every player behind the ball, which made things difficult for the Flamengo attack. In the 10th minute, Cassiano took a free kick from the edge of the box, and Bruno saved it confidently. Soon after, Willians burst into the box and shot powerfully. Adriano saved Friburguense's effort.

In the 21st minute, Victor Hugo dribbled past Willians, took a powerful shot, and Bruno saved it. Crispin fired a first-time shot from the rebound, and Fábio Luciano cleared it for a corner. In the 29th minute, Airton crossed into the box, and Obina headed it in. Adriano made another save for Friburgo. Six minutes later, Adriano performed another miracle. After Ibson's cross, Obina fired a powerful shot, and the Friburguense goalkeeper cleared it for a corner.

In the Gávea team's last good move of the first half, Kleberson made a beautiful run down the left and fired a beautiful shot from the edge of the box. Adriano saved another.

In the second half, Flamengo returned with Everton replacing Marcelinho Paraíba. In the 13th minute, Flamengo scored its first goal of the 2009 season. After a cross from Léo Moura, Obina shot, and the ball fell to Juan to score: 1-0 Flamengo at Maracanã.

Coach Cuca's team had two more good chances to extend their lead. The first came from Obina, who missed a great opportunity in front of Adriano, and then from Ibson, who capitalized on Léo Moura's cross with a dangerous header.

In the 35th minute, Ibson received the ball at the edge of the box and shot just wide of Adriano's left post. Flamengo passed the ball around and waited for the final whistle to celebrate their first victory in the Campeonato Carioca.

TECHNICAL SHEET:\ FLAMENGO 1 X 0 FRIBURGUENSE\

Stadium: Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)\ Date/time: 25/01/2009 - 17:XNUMX p.m. (Brasília time)\ Referee: Leonardo Garcia Cavaleiro (RJ)\

Income/audience: R$ 562.847,00/ 34.132 paying customers

Yellow cards: Ronaldo Angelim, Leonardo Moura (FLA); Gilson, Alex (FRI)\ Red cards: None\

GOALS: JUan, 12'/2nd half (1-0)

FLAMENGO: Bruno, Aírton, Fábio Luciano and Ronaldo Angelim; Leonardo Moura, Willians, Kleberson (Fierro, 30'/2nd half), Ibson and Juan (Toró, 40'/2nd half); Marcelinho Paraíba (Everton, half-time) and Obina. Coach: Cuca.

FRIBURGUENSE: Adriano, Wallace, Crispin, Cadão and Gilson; Sergio Gomes, Elan (Emerson, 25'/2nd half), Victor Hugo (Ziquinha, 25'/2nd half) and Cassiano; Alex (Hércules, 14'/2nd half) and Tiago. Coach: Cleimar Rocha.