By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The fourth round of the Campeonato Carioca ended last night with Duque de Caxias taking on Bonsucesso and Boavista hosting third round leader Cabofriense. Duque and Bonsucesso drew 1-1, while Boavista came away with three points, defeating Cabo 1-0.
That means after four rounds Flamengo are the new leader of the Carioca table. The Rubro-Negro have collected ten points from four games, and they sit two points clear of Vasco and Boavista.
The previous evening Flamengo had comfortably beaten Friburguense 2-0 in Nova Friburgo. Goals from Samir and new signing Elano secured victory as Jayme de Almeida’s side begin to find rhythm ahead of their Copa Libertadores opener next month against León of Mexico.
Vasco have scored ten goals in their last two outings and are flying high. Following Sunday’s 6-0 rout of Friburguense, they thrashed Audax 4-0 on Wednesday evening. An own goal gave the Cruz-Maltino the lead, before Edmílson doubled the advantage less than a minute later.
A brace from Bernardo completed the scoring. Vasco have shown rapid progress this year, and after suffering relegation from the Brasileiro Série A in December, have made it abundantly clear they are going all out to win the state title.
There was a second straight win for Fluminense, who beat Resende 1-0 at the Maracanã Stadium. Darío Conca’s second goal in as many games after eleven minutes was enough to separate the sides and lift the Tricolor into fourth.
In a fourth round game brought forward due to Libertadores commitments, Botafogo defeated Madureira 2-1. It was the Gloriosos’s first success in the competition.
Campeonato Carioca Round Four Results in Full:
Botafogo 2-1 Madureira
Bangu 1-2 Nova Iguaçu
Friburguense 0-2 Flamengo
Macaé 0-1 Volta Redonda
Audax 0-4 Vasco
Fluminense 1-0 Resende
Duque de Caxias 1-1 Bonsucesso
Boavista 1-0 Cabofriense
Read more (in Portuguese).
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