Vagner Love debuted with the right foot for Flamengo. And with the left, too. Scoring a goal with each leg, the team's new number 9 left the Red-Black Nation enamored with his football. Despite his lack of match rhythm, the forward ran, shot, dribbled... and was the star of the show in the Gávea team's 2-1 victory over Bangu this Saturday at Engenhão. With this result, Flamengo leads its group in the State Championship, with three wins in three matches.

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Coach Andrade's team got off to a flying start. Just 12 minutes in, midfielder Vinícius Pacheco burst into the box and was brought down by Bangu's goalkeeper, but referee Vagner dos Santos Rosa didn't signal the foul. It didn't matter, because six minutes later, the debutant's star power began to shine. In the 18th minute, Fernando stole the ball, dribbled past his marker, and unleashed a long-range shot that goalkeeper Marcos Leandro rebounded. Smartly, Love capitalized and scored his first goal for Flamengo. The striker celebrated wildly, galvanizing the fans and the rest of the team.

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After the first goal, the red-and-black team picked up momentum: they started playing quickly, with skillful touches, and demonstrated all the quality fans expect from the duo Adriano and Vagner Love. In the 24th minute, the Emperor hit the crossbar twice. The first after a one-two with Kleberson. The second after trying to lob the goalkeeper with his right foot. As the play continued, Adriano left Love face-to-face, and the shot went just wide of the post. The nearly 15 fans at the Engenhão stadium went wild. But the best was yet to come.

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In the 45th minute, Bruno took a free kick for the attack. Adriano jumped highest and, with a subtle header, the ball fell to Love. He managed, almost in trouble, to dribble past the goalkeeper and score his second goal for Flamengo. Shortly thereafter, before the end of the first half, Bangu reduced the deficit with a penalty kick from midfielder Tiano. Later, in the second half, the match lost its excitement and technical quality, and the Flamengo side from the west zone began to press harder. However, it failed to quell the romantic atmosphere between the team and the Flamengo fans, who left Engenhão undefeated in the State Championship and in their history at the stadium.

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BANGU 1 x 2 FLAMENGO

Bangu: Marcos Leandro, Uillian Souza, Carlos Renan, Abílio and Bruno Santos; Marcão, André Oliveira (Muniz), Thiago Galhardo and Tiano (Digão); Somalia (Sassa) and Gustavo Correia. Coach: Marcelo Buarque.  
Flamengo: Bruno, Leonardo Moura, Alvaro, Ronaldo Angelim and Everton Silva; Toró, Fernando, Kleberson and Vinicius Pacheco (Petkovic); Adriano (Lenon) and Vagner Love. Coach: Andrade.

Goals: Vagner Love, in the 18th and 45th minutes, and Tiano, in the 49th minute of the first half.
Yellow cards: Uillian Souza, Somalia, Marcão, Carlos Renan (Bangu); Toró, Vinícius Pacheco, Álvaro (Fla).
Income: R$ 291.425,00
Paying public: 14.412

Stadium: Engenhão, in Rio de Janeiro (RJ).
Date: 23/01/2010.
Referee: Wagner dos Santos Rosa.
Assistants: Silbert Faria Sisquim and Wendel de Paiva Gouvea.