Flamengo is in the semifinals of the Rio Cup, and they owe their qualification largely to the Empire of Love. Adriano and Vagner Love were once again decisive, scoring the goals in another Flamengo victory in the competition. This Sunday, the team defeated América 2-1 at the Engenhão stadium, maintaining their unbeaten run at the stadium and in the championship.

With this result, Flamengo reaches 19 points and mathematically secures a spot in the next round. Next weekend, the team faces Friburguense away from home to conclude its qualifying campaign. The attacking duo has now scored 23 goals in the State Championship, accounting for 57% of the 40 scored by the Gávea team in the tournament.

Busy game
América entered the field motivated to secure three points to surprise and secure a spot in the semifinals. Therefore, they were undeterred by the sight of the red-and-black jersey on the other side. Proof of this is that Sangue opened the scoring in the fifth minute, through Jones. After a pass from Germano, he burst into the box and fired a powerful shot high into the air, leaving Bruno with no chance: 1-0.

Earlier, in the third minute, Love had already come close to scoring, and in the seventh minute, Vinícius Pacheco also had a good chance. Seeking an equalizer, Flamengo undaunted by the goal and pushed forward. On the counterattack, Flamengo from Rua Campos Salles also threatened. And it was Flamengo who actually scored. In the 22nd minute, Vagner Love momentarily allowed Adriano to equalize in the scoring lead. He was awarded a penalty, which the Emperor perfectly converted to make it 1-1.

Turn at the end
In the second half, both teams took the field determined to break the deadlock. With Maldonado replacing Kleberson, Flamengo tightened their defense, took control of the game, and even relied on Jones. While the striker had disrupted the Flamengo side's calm in the first half, he ended up helping the team from Gávea in the second half: he was sent off in the 14th minute for a step on Willians.

A perfect scenario for Andrade to take a risk. He had already warned that he would only field two playmaking midfielders if a special situation arose. It arose, and off Petkovic took the field. First, alongside Vinícius Pacheco, then with Ramón, who replaced the number 22. But neither midfielder shone. The difference-maker, once again, was the number 9.

In the 37th minute of the second half, just over an hour after helping Adriano equal him in the Carioca scoring charts, Love once again became the competition's top scorer. Leo Moura delivered a superb cross to the center forward, who only had to head the ball into the net to make it 2-1.

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FLAMENGO 2 x 1 AMERICA

Stadium: Engenhão.
Date: 28/03/2010.
Referee: Rodrigo Nunes de Sá.
Assistants: Dibert Pedrosa Moisés and Flavio Manoel da Silva.
Paying public: 3.218
Income: R$ 75.505,00

Goals: Jones, in the 4th minute, Adriano, in the 23rd minute of the first half; Vagner Love, in the 37th minute of the second half.
Yellow cards: Toró, Willians, Fabrício and Ramon (Flamengo); Claudemir (America).
Red cards: Jones and Gerson (América).

Flamengo: Bruno, Leonardo Moura, David, Fabricio and Juan; Toró (Petkovic), Willians, Kleberson (Maldonado) and Vinícius Pacheco (Ramon); Adriano and Vagner Love. Coach: Andrade. 
America: Roberto, Claudemir, Fabio Braz, Luciano Almeida and Gerson; Mael, Joziel, Bruno Reis (Da Costa) and Jones; Paty (Daniel Morais) and Adriano. Coach: Gabriel Vieira.