Flamengo's unbeaten run in the Brazilian Championship ended with a 4-2 loss to São Paulo this Saturday afternoon at Maracanã Stadium. Despite the loss, the red-and-black team maintained its lead in the Brazilian Championship with 13 points. Cruzeiro and Grêmio are level on points but trail on goal difference. In the next round, the team from Gávea faces Ipatinga on Sunday in Minas Gerais.

The game began with Flamengo taking the initiative. Juan, Léo Moura, and Souza had the first chances, but their shots failed to threaten Rogério Ceni's goal. The São Paulo team threatened with Jorge Wagner's set pieces.

In the 22nd minute, São Paulo opened the scoring with the red-and-black team dominating the match. Jancarlos crossed, Hugo headed it in, and Borges headed it home: 1-0 São Paulo. Four minutes later, Fábio Luciano scored, but referee Leonardo Gaciba disallowed the goal.

Late in the first half, Flamengo suffocated the São Paulo team. In the 41st minute, Ibson crossed and Ronaldo Angelim almost equalized. Rogério Ceni made a good save. Three minutes later, Diego Tardelli had a chance, but the ball went wide.

Flamengo returned for the second half with Jônatas replacing Toró, who was experiencing pain in his right thigh. Six minutes in, Hugo tried his luck from the edge of the box and nearly caught Bruno. Soon after, Diego Tardelli received the ball in the box, dribbled past Jancarlos, and was awarded a penalty. Ibson struck well to level the match: 1-1 at the Maracanã.

In the 16th minute, Borges took advantage of a mistake by the red-black defense and put São Paulo back in front: 2-1. Soon after, Richarlysson crossed from the left and Aloísio extended the lead for the São Paulo team: 3-1.

Obina, who had replaced Souza, was brought down by Alex Silva in the box. Penalty kick. Ibson took the shot, Rogério Ceni saved, but the midfielder managed to head it into the net: 3-2.

Cheered on by more than 55 fans, Flamengo nearly equalized with Diego Tardelli, but his shot went over the bar. Caio Júnior changed the lineup, replacing Tardelli with Maxi.

In the 37th minute, Obina fired a shot from the edge of the box that hit the left post of Rogério Ceni's goal. Eight minutes later, Obina had the team from Gávea's last chance of the match, but his header went just wide of the post. In the end, Éder Luis scored another goal for São Paulo: 4-2.

TECHNICAL SHEET\ FLAMENGO 2 X 4 SÃO PAULO\

Stadium: Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)\ Date/time: 14/6/2008 - 16:10 p.m. (Brasília time)\ Referee: Leonardo Gaciba (Fifa/RS)\ Assistants: Altemir Hausmann (Fifa/RS) and Alessandro Alvaro Rocha de Matos (Fifa/BA)\

Income/attendance: -\ Yellow cards: Léo Moura (FLA); Jorge Wagner, Jancarlos, Aloísio (SAO)\ Red cards: -\ GOALS: Borges, 22'/1st half (0-1); Ibson, 11'/2nd half (1-1); Borges, 16'/2nd half (1-2); Aloísio, 19'2nd half (1-3); Ibson, 25'/2nd half (2-3); Éder Luis, 47'/2nd half (2-4).\

FLAMENGO: Bruno, Léo Moura, Fábio Luciano, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Toró (Jônatas, half-time), Cristian, Ibson, and Marcinho; Diego Tardelli (Maxi, 31'/2nd half) and Souza (Obina, 25'/2nd half). Coach: Caio Júnior.

Coach: Muricy Ramalho.

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