By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Walter bagged a brace for new club Fluminense as the Tricolor comprehensively beat Boavista 4-1 last night at the Maracanã Stadium. It was Flu’s sixth straight win in the Campeonato Carioca, leaving them three points ahead of Flamengo and Cabofriense as league leaders.
It was not all good news for the Laranjeiras outfit though. Seleção striker Fred missed another penalty – his third in a little over six months – and is coming under pressure from arrival Walter. The on-loan forward has scored three goals in two games and is already in second place in the race for the tournament’s Golden Boot prize.
If Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was watching last night, he will have been more impressed with the performances of Fred’s teammate Rafael Sóbis, who also got on the scoresheet yesterday. Fred has not hit the back of the net since August 7th, a period of over six months.
The team are beginning to find their rhythm under Renato Gaúcho. After a tumultuous end to 2013, Flu have started this year on the front foot.
Boavista played a defensive game and aimed to hit Fluminense on the counter-attack. Their ploy paid off when Gilcimar headed them into the lead on 25 minutes. However, Conca replied with a header of his own two minutes before half-time, meeting Sóbis’ dangerously swinging cross perfectly. Just after the hour-mark, Flu went ahead for the first time.
Conca was involved again, sending the ball to Carlinhos who in turn teed up Sóbis to shoot inside the near post. Sóbis gave way to Walter who, after scoring in last week’s Fla-Flu, once again endeared himself to the Flu fans.
He scored two in the last nine minutes to put the gloss on a fine team performance. Fred’s place in the Tricolores hearts looks under threat after a disappointing eight months since the Confederations Cup dominated by various injuries.
At 4PM this afternoon, Vasco da Gama take on Flamengo in a Carioca clássico. A win for Fla would put them level on points with Flu at the top of the table.
Read more (in Portuguese).
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