By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Fluminense won 2-1 away to Criciúma last night in the 2013 Campeonato Brasileiro to stretch their unbeaten run to five games. The three points took them into the top half of the table for the first time under coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo. There were also defeats for Vasco and Botafogo yesterday.
Two goals from Bruno gave Fluminense the points against Criciúma in a 2-1 win. The side came from behind to finally put some breathing space between themselves and the relegation zone.
Flu started the game terribly and deservedly fell behind on 38 minutes. The defense failed to deal with a cross and Lins steered the ball home via a deflection off Anderson.
Before going ahead, Criciúma had already had a goal disallowed and missed a penalty. As half-time neared, things were looking shaky for the Rio club.
Nevertheless, just before the end of the opening 45 minutes the Tricolor leveled through Bruno, the full-back converting Carlinhos’ cross. Upon the return for the second half, it was Fluminense who seized the initiative, buoyed by that late first-half strike.
Twenty minutes from time, they struck the winner. Rafael Sóbis unleashed a venomous shot from the left, which smashed against the cross bar and Bruno headed in the rebound for his second of the night.
Vasco slipped further into trouble after a 2-1 defeat against Vitória at São Januário stadium in Rio. The Cariocas had taken the lead early through André, but two goals in the last ten minutes from the visitors condemned Vasco to their fourth straight defeat and had fans calling for coach Doríval Junior’s dismissal.
The title chase for Botafogo was left in pieces last night after losing 3-0 to Cruzeiro at the Mineirão in Belo Horizonte. Nílton gave the home side the lead on the stroke of half-time after a tense first half.
Early in the second, Seedorf had the perfect opportunity to level from the penalty spot but sent his effort wide. Júlio Baptista scored twice in the last nine minutes to wrap up Cruzeiro’s eighth successive Brasileirão win.
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